I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE that I received the Michael Russell Award for 2024. The Award honours someone who has made a substantial and innovative contribution to the science and understanding of safer nicotine products and tobacco harm reduction. The award is presented each year at the Global Forum on Nicotine in memory of Professor […] The post Michael Russell Award 2024. And the winner is… appeared first on Dr Colin Mendelsohn ..read more

THE CURRENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM 7NEWS Spotlight breached the Commercial TV Code of Practice by inaccurately portraying me as a representative of Big Tobacco. The breach occurred in relation to the episode titled Killers in the Mist which was broadcast by Channel Seven Sydney Pty Limited nationally on 28 May 2023. This was the finding of […] The post Channel 7 Sydney “inaccurately portrayed me as a representative of Big Tobacco” appeared first on Dr Colin Mendelsohn ..read more

NEW ZEALAND AND SWEDEN have experienced unprecedented declines in smoking by enabling smokers to switch to lower-risk alternatives. Both countries are on-track to be ‘smoke-free’* within the next two years. A similar approach in Australia could save thousands of lives. This was the finding of a new report titled SmokeFree New Zealand, authored by Professor […] The post Australia Must Follow New Zealand and Sweden to Reduce Smoking – New Report appeared first on Dr Colin Mendelsohn ..read more

THE AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION and public health organisations are engaged in a media blitz on youth vaping to pressure MPs to pass the Vaping Reform Bill and entrench the prescription model. However, much of the case against youth vaping is based on “moral panic” and is emotive and misleading. Many of the risks are exaggerated. […] The post Youth vaping – the facts appeared first on Dr Colin Mendelsohn ..read more

THE UNPRECEDENTED DECLINE IN SMOKING in New Zealand since vaping was legalised and regulated in 2020 was highlighted in a presentation at the E-Cig Summit in Washington last week. The presentation by New Zealand ASH Director Ben Youdan showed how Australia is falling further behind in tobacco control. Australia and New Zealand have shared similar tobacco […] The post New Zealand smoking success puts Australia to shame appeared first on Dr Colin Mendelsohn ..read more

AUSTRALIA’S DE FACTO PROHIBITION of vaping has created a rampant black market run by criminals, a sharp rise in youth vaping, and a barrier for adult smokers wishing to quit. The proposed Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Bill 2024 will only make things worse. Following from the recent Senate Inquiry, Alex Wodak […] The post Urgent call to reject the Vaping Reforms Bill appeared first on Dr Colin Mendelsohn ..read more

THE SENATE INQUIRY INTO VAPING has recommended that the vaping bill be passed (report here). What does that mean, and what’s next? The Committee voted in favour of the Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Bill 2024. If passed in a Senate vote, the bill will ban the importation, domestic manufacture, supply, commercial […] The post The Senate Committee has approved the vaping bill. What now? appeared first on Dr Colin Mendelsohn ..read more

EMERITUS PROFESSOR SIMON CHAPMAN AND COLLEAGUES are predicting that illegal vapes will virtually disappear in Australia because the Chinese government requires “all exporters to obey the laws of the countries to which they are exporting”. [link Sub 208, Sub 62] A Chinese government report showed that the number of vapes leaving China for Australia fell […] The post Will China stop supplying illegal vapes to Australia? appeared first on Dr Colin Mendelsohn ..read more

THREE EXPERT WITNESSES have told the Senate Inquiry into Vaping that the current vaping black market will continue unabated under the proposed legislation. No level of enforcement can restrict the established illicit trade and reduce its profitability. All three witnesses recommended that vapes be regulated as adult consumer products sold from licensed retail outlets as […] The post Proposed restrictions will have no impact on the vape black market – experts appeared first on Dr Colin Mendelsohn ..read more

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