smoking

Among other things, the bill, which will take effect Oct. 1, will raise the state’s legal age to vape and smoke tobacco to 21, a threshold already established in federal law.

Menthol has been the last allowable flavor in cigarettes, and the FDA says marginalized communities are far more likely to use these products.

The measure would regulate the sale of electronic cigarettes and raise the state’s legal age to use tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21.

While an increased tax means more state revenue, a disincentive for kids to smoke and a win for public health, the measure could also allow premium tobacco companies to gain market share.

In the lawsuit, R.J. Reynolds contended that it should not have to make payments to the state related to four brands of cigarettes that it agreed to sell in 2014 to ITG Brands.

In a case involving a woman who died at age 52 of smoking-caused lung cancer, a state appeals court Friday tossed out a $16 million punitive-damages award…

Gov. Ron DeSantis said the bill, which also would have banned flavored vaping products, would have encouraged teens to smoke cigarettes.

The campaign includes $2 million for research on how e-cigarettes affect developing lungs.

The Fourth District Court of Appeal has held R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company responsible for close to $100 million dollars owed to the State of Florida. The case stems from a 1997 settlement where cigarette makers agreed to pay the state because of smoking-related health costs. Reynolds thought it had escaped liability when it sold the cigarette brands to ITG Brands.

Increasing evidence suggests people who smoke are more likely to become severely ill and die from COVID-19 than nonsmokers. Some people are using that as inspiration to quit.