IN MY INTRODUCTORY SPEECH to the Senate Vaping Inquiry on 2 May 2024, I cover two major concerns about Australia’s vaping policy and comment on the blatant misinformation presented to the Inquiry.    1. The current de facto ban is not working and will not work with the proposed changes Ninety percent of vapers […] The post My evidence at the Senate Inquiry appeared first on Dr Colin Mendelsohn ..read more

HARSH GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS on vaping products amount to prohibition and have created “an extraordinarily large, uncontrollable, and dangerous black market”. Attempts to restrict the market further will almost certainly fail according to leading experts in criminology and law enforcement, Dr James Martin and Mr Rohan Pike. Dr Martin is a Deakin University criminologist, with special […] The post Vaping prohibition has failed, experts say appeared first on Dr Colin Mendelsohn ..read more

RESEARCH HAS NOT IDENTIFIED any serious harms to the lungs from vaping nicotine by non-smoking adults in the short-medium term. An expert review concluded that vaping nicotine is unlikely to raise any significant concerns for lung health. (Polosa) There is good evidence that lung health improves in smokers who switch to vaping. Breathing, cough and […] The post Does vaping harm the lungs of adults who have never smoked? appeared first on Dr Colin Mendelsohn ..read more

NICOTINE POUCHES are becoming popular as safer nicotine alternatives to smoking tobacco in other countries. Are they legal in Australia? Are they safe? Where can you buy them?  Nicotine pouches are small bags of nicotine (in various doses) that are placed between the upper lip and gum for about an hour, and steadily release nicotine. […] The post Could nicotine pouches help you quit smoking? appeared first on Dr Colin Mendelsohn ..read more

THIS WEEK I GAVE EVIDENCE to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into vaping. However, I was appalled by the false and misleading information provided to the Committee in anti-vaping submissions and oral evidence by experts whose advice has created the current regulatory disaster. Continuing to follow this flawed advice will only lead to further harm to […] The post The dilemma facing the NSW Parliament Inquiry into Vaping appeared first on Dr Colin Mendelsohn ..read more

THE CURRENT SENATE VAPING INQUIRY is a real opportunity for change policy. There is growing support for vaping reform in federal Parliament. We think a majority of senators understand that the current model has failed. The deadline for submissions is COB 12 April 2024. The vaping bill before parliament is intended to ban “the importation, […] The post Please make a submission to the Senate vaping inquiry appeared first on Dr Colin Mendelsohn ..read more

SPEAKERS IN LAST WEEK’S PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE on the Vaping Reform Bill all agreed that the primary focus of vaping legislation should be to reduce youth use. However, there was very little agreement on anything else. The debate uncovered widespread misinformation about vaping and largely dismissed the huge value of vaping as an adult quitting aid. […] The post The vape debate – a report from Parliament appeared first on Dr Colin Mendelsohn ..read more

MARK BUTLER HAS INTRODUCED his vaping Bill to Parliament. If I were a member of Parliament, I would oppose the Bill. The current regulatory model has failed and will only get worse with the proposed changes. Here are 7 reasons why a new approach is needed. 1. Youth vaping has skyrocketed The current illegal markets […] The post 7 reasons why Parliament should oppose the vaping Bill appeared first on Dr Colin Mendelsohn ..read more

THE VICTORIAN PARLIAMENT INQUIRY INTO VAPING can recommend legislative changes to end the current, failed prescription-pharmacy model that has handed control of the market to criminal gangs. The Victorian Parliament can and should replace it with a strictly regulated adult consumer model. Please make your submission before the deadline next week, on Friday 29 March […] The post Victorian Parliament Inquiry into Vaping. Submissions now due appeared first on Dr Colin Mendelsohn ..read more

I WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW that I am back at work. After trying to retire twice, I have found that vaping advocacy is more addictive than I thought. Professor Ron Borland calls me the Dame Nellie Melba of Tobacco Harm Reduction for my failed retirement efforts. Dame Nellie (pictured above) was a famous Australian […] The post “More farewells than Dame Nellie Melba” appeared first on Dr Colin Mendelsohn ..read more