The Federal Government’s own report has revealed the true cost of Labor’s new rules restricting the sale of vapes to consumers with a prescription in a pharmacy. The new vape policy – which will be fully implemented by 1 March 2024 – was the focus of a recent impact analysis for the Department of Health and Aged Care.  The report estimates that 450,000 Australians will turn to local GPs for a vape prescription twice a year, choking an already stretched national healthcare system. It also estimates that the cost to consumers will be more than $50 million per year. LVA Director Brian Marlow ..read more

Australia’s prohibitions on vaping products are no longer credible Governments must move immediately to strict regulatory model to starve the black market US experience shows strict regulation of vapes as consumer product can protect teens Media release For immediate distribution US Government data showing vaping among American teens fell by almost 30% in the past year is the latest evidence that Australia’s black-market-supporting approach to e-cigarettes is failing the nation, Legalise Vaping director Brian Marlow said today. The National Youth Tobacco Survey 2023, published by the US Cent ..read more

For immediate release Statement from Brian Marlow, Campaign Director, Legalise Vaping 25 September 2023 The penny is dropping. Australia’s top-rating talkback host this morning made the case for authorities, admitting the black market in illegal vaping products is out of control. He said: “They’re not going to be able to stop the vapes. It’s like trying to stop the waves or the wind. They are here to stay. So you’re better off just saying all right, let’s treat them like cigarettes – which means we tax them, we regulate them, and we have a say over what’s in them and the conditions of their sa ..read more

Legalise Vaping Australia blowing the lid on the fake pharma companies that are using the prescription model to control what you buy and where you buy it. These companies are backed by big money and big influence. Last week, we brought you shocking revelations around Liber Pharmaceuticals (Nicovape), including its Head of Regulatory and External Affairs working for tobacco giant Philip Morris International for over 11 years. Since then, we’ve received dozens of tip-offs from LVA subscribers about other fake pharma companies and their associations with big tobacco. We now know of the financial ..read more

Prescription vaping was a lie. It was designed to shut out independent vape stores and create a monopoly for a handful of pop-up pharmaceutical companies. Over the next three weeks, we’ll be exposing these companies and the people behind them. And we will demand the government take action – to stamp out practices that put profits before people's health. Remember, prescription vaping was pushed by organisations like the RACGP as far back as 2019. ‘If they were a therapeutic product I think a lot of these concerns about uptake and use amongst non-smokers would be hugely reduced.’ Dr Nick Zwar, G ..read more

Today’s media reports of the Health Minister ignoring the advice of his own expert health committee on vaping policy, is evidence that the only thing he cares about is protecting the Australian Government’s addiction to tobacco taxes. In documents released under freedom of information, private correspondence from the Australian National Advisory Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs revealed concerns were raised that Mark Butler’s vaping policy ‘could make smoking cigarettes more attractive’.  Legalise Vaping Australia Director Brian Marlow said these new revelations are an absolute disgrace ..read more

Legalise Vaping Australia, the nation’s largest pro-vaping advocacy body has slammed ABC reports that the Federal Government will spend upwards of $1Bn to crackdown on illicit vaping. LVA believes this gross misuse of taxpayer funds is a misguided and futile attempt to tackle a problem that could be better addressed through legalisation and regulation Brian Marlow, Director of Legalise Vaping Australia expressed his disbelief and disappointment in the reported approach: “$1 billion gets you a football stadium in Tassie and the GST from legal vapes sales buys you 100 new public houses in Tassi ..read more

Legalise Vaping Australia (LVA), the voice of 1.1 million Australian adult vapers, welcomes Health Minister Mark Butler’s review of nicotine vaping regulations. Announced yesterday, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has now opened public consultations to potential vaping reforms, aimed at preventing young people from accessing nicotine vaping products, while supporting access for adults who use these products for smoking cessation. LVA Director, Brian Marlow says a rethink on Australia’s vaping regulations is a step in the right direction. “The LVA has campaigned consistently for a co ..read more

New findings from the Cochrane Review – the global gold standard in independent medical evidence reviews – should change the debate for good in Australia on vaping as a quitting tool for smokers, Legalise Vaping Australia said today.  “The Australian medical establishment is far behind their global peers on this,” LVA campaign director Brian Marlow said. “This updated review by Cochrane which was led by highly respected academics and it finds vaping is more effective than other methods in getting smokers to quit cigarettes. “Cigarettes are still the number one killer in Australia, causing ..read more

TGA reveals in Senate Estimates that scheduled reviews of the regulations banning retail sales of nicotine vaping products never happened Reviews which were promised when regulations were introduced have been “supplanted” by “consultations” The policy was designed to stop youth access to vapes and manage adult consumption – instead both have exploded in a massive policy failure Legalise Vaping Australia calls for immediate disclosure on what has happened to the reviews The revelation that promised reviews of Australia’s prohibition-style vaping regulations never happened underscore the ..read more