<
https://theconversation.com/reducing-nicotine-in-tobacco-would-help-people-quit-without-prohibiting-cigarettes-221383>
"Supporters of the new government’s plan to repeal Aotearoa New Zealand’s
smokefree legislation have claimed victory against “prohibition”.
Introduced under Jacinda Ardern’s government, the smokefree law came into
effect in January 2023 and included a commitment to introduce mandated
“denicotinisation” (cutting the nicotine to levels that are no longer
addictive) of smoked tobacco products.
Studies estimated this measure would have greatly reduced smoking and helped
prevent avoidable death and suffering.
However, opponents, notably the tobacco industry and its allies, criticised the
measure as “prohibition”.
In a submission to the select committee on the smokefree legislation, Imperial
Tobacco claimed
Mandating very low nicotine levels is equivalent to prohibiting the regular
cigarettes currently consumed by millions of adult smokers.
In its submission, Japan Tobacco International wrote
The nicotine reduction policy is a de facto prohibition on conventional
cigarettes and will have dire consequences.
But are the tobacco industry’s claims really true? And why has the current
Health Minister gone from supporting denicotinisation to being set to repeal
it?"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
