British American Tobacco Market

British American Tobacco PLC Wednesday warned of global economic uncertainty as it posted a rise in profit driven by strong demand in emerging markets and price increases. The world's No. 2 tobacco company by sales boosted revenue slightly despite flat volumes and said the results were against tough year-on-year comparisons and were hit by adverse currency effects.

Smoking Prohibited on Campus

This is a response from Campuses Organized and United for Good Health (COUGH) Northridge to the opinion piece that was written by Joelle Katz in the Daily Sundial on January 30, 2012 titled “Non-smoker says: Don’t ban smoking!” With the recently passed mandate requiring that all University of California facilities be smoke free by 2014, it is evident that there is a national trend for colleges and universities to adopt tobacco-free policies. As part of the CSU system, we have the opportunity to lead and be the first campus in the system to move forward along with many other institutions nationwide.

South Africa to Severe Smoking Ordinance

Health authorities are working at tightening South Africa’s anti-smoking laws, proposing a total ban on indoor smoking and even making it illegal to puff away in open spaces such as beaches. Stadiums, zoos, parks, outdoor eateries and beer gardens would all be affected. At beaches, smoking would only be allowed at least 50 metres from the closest person. But before introducing any new law, the health ministry will throw open the proposals to the public in discussions next week.

Cigarettes Smoking Exposure Can Lead to Diabetes

A new study from Charles Drew University found that adults exposed to environmental tobacco smoke had a higher measure of insulin resistance than nonsmokers without the smoke exposure. With insulin resistance, the body produces insulin but does not use it properly. It can eventually lead to type 2 diabetes. "Passive cigarette smoking" Researchers measured "passive cigarette smoking" by how much cotinine they found in the blood of participants. Cotinine is a substance related to nicotine that measures a person's exposure to tobacco smoke.

Illegal Tobacco Business, Alarming News

The extraordinary increase in illicit tobacco business in the country has rung alarm bells in higher echelons of authority. An urgent need to check its rampant growth has been acknowledged by the tax authorities. According to sources there has been an increase of 11 percent in illegal cigarette trade during last one year, bringing losses worth billions of rupees to the national exchequer.

Secondhand Smoke Ordinance, the Buellton City

The Buellton City Council gave first approval to a law that snuffs out smoking in most public places. By a 4-1 vote, the council on May 24 voted to ban smoking within 20 feet of businesses and at bus stops and transit centers, in retail and service lines, in 75% of outdoor dining areas and other places. The ban would not apply to outdoor seating sections of bars.

Anti-Smoking Activists Ask for a Ban in Maharashtra

Will the state government ban gutka-acknowledged as the cause for the epidemic of oral cancer across the country? This is the question anti-tobacco activists are asking after Madhya Pradesh and, more recently, Kerala banned gutka. Food and drug administration minister Satej Patil said, "We are working towards the ban. Even Maharashtra will soon have a ban on gutka and other products." He added that Madhya Pradesh and Kerala had managed to implement the ban after getting a final approval from the judiciary. "We do not want any case in the court challenging the ban later. So we are trying to do a thorough job, which is taking time," he said.

Tobacco Outlawed and Marijuana Legalized

I agree with the conclusion of the Nanaimo Daily News editorial. In the first place, both tobacco cigarettes and marijuana (cigarettes) are made of plant material. They are both smoked. Tobacco has been used legitimately, albeit ignorantly, until more recent times when the addictive nature of nicotine and the cancer-causing effect of smoked tobacco become better understood. Therefore, replacing one addictive tobacco product with another that has a delivery system that is far worse and has the ability to impair judgment and affect the brain is looney. The fact that while society is tightening restrictions on the use of tobacco, we have a pro-marijuana movement bleating about legalization that would be laughable if it weren't so serious.