Letter From CEO
Dear Black Note Community, We think the FDA has been spying on us. That’s because regulatory changes currently being discussed in the industry just so happen to match the same standards Black Note has been upholding since our inception. These standards include lots of little things that fit into Black Note’s bigger picture of only appealing to adult former smokers and no one else. The vaping crowd is a huge one, but not all people who vape do so for the same reasons. Black Note was
Study: E-Cigarettes vs. Cigarettes vs. Heat Not Burn
Vaping really revolutionized the way people use nicotine, but the changes are really only just beginning. Heat-not-burn devices, which use actual tobacco but just heat it rather than “smoking” it through combustion, offer a bit of a middle-ground between vaping and smoking. But with the middle-ground in function, you might assume a middle-ground in risk follows. But does it? Although we can’t be certain yet, a recent study from Dr. Farsalinos looks at exactly this issue: what exposes users to the most formaldehyde and
Vaping in Ireland – Gillian Golden interview
Most of the action in the e-cigarette debate is taking place in the USA and UK. Britain is moving towards a pro-vaping position, with all the major health organizations recognizing its potential as a harm reduction technique and the National Health Service recommending e-cigs to smokers. The USA is still going down the prohibitionist route, with every level of public health treating vaping as just one more part of the “tobacco epidemic.” When it comes to vaping and its place in society, the USA and
How to Help a Loved One Stop Smoking
Let’s get serious for a minute: the thought of losing a loved one - be it a family member, significant other, or a friend - at any stage in life is a devastating one. Yet, for those of us who have loved ones who regularly smoke this is a frightening reality that could come much sooner than it needs to. Use of traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes is accountable for more than 480,000 deaths each year in the United States, and continue to
Dick Puddlecote Interview – Watching the WHO
Last week I mentioned the World Health Organization’s tobacco control conference, COP 7. This is where more than 180 countries and a lot of health groups meet to discuss new anti-smoking policies – except, recently, it’s been more interested in vaping. Sadly it’s a very secretive conference, but a few brave vapers did fly all the way to India to see what was happening. One of them was British vaper and blogger Dick Puddlecote, and I managed to speak to him at the weekend. The
Here’s Why Smoking Is At An All Time Low
In February this year, the Centers for Disease Control released figures that shows tobacco use in the US is at its lowest point since records began. This year, stats show that only 15.3% of American identify as tobacco smokers, a drop of almost ten percent from the numbers in 1997, where almost a quarter of the population were smoking regularly. Whilst these results can only be positive for public health overall, there are several factors that could have contributed to the use of traditional tobacco
COP 7 – WHO do you think you are?
The World Health Organization was set up in 1946, and for 70 years it’s been seen as one of the great achievements of the United Nations. It played a major part in eliminating smallpox, the only human disease that’s been totally defeated so far. It’s helped fight malaria, cholera and other infectious diseases, and has saved millions of lives. Recently, however, the WHO’s popularity has been fading. The reason is simple: It’s stopped doing what it was set up to do – fight disease –
Gateway Myth: Does Vaping Really Lead to Smoking?
It’s been three years since director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Thomas Frieden, voiced his concerns about the number of kids vaping, starting what has come to be known as the 'gateway theory'. His worry was that by vaping these young people will be persuaded to try out conventional cigarettes, an opinion which has been echoed across the country ever since, and has no doubt influenced the harsh rulings the FDA has imposed on the e-cigarette and vaping industry. For some
Marewa Glover Interview: Vaping and Tobacco Control in New Zealand
A couple of weeks ago Michael Grey looked at the difference in vaping laws between New Zealand and the USA. I thought that was pretty interesting, so to find out a bit more about how Kiwi vapers are doing I spoke to Associate Professor Marewa Glover about the law and what’s happening at the moment. Prof. Glover has been one of the leading pro-vaping voices in New Zealand for years, and she’s worked especially hard to improve access to vapor products for the Indigenous
David Goerlitz Interview: The Winston Man Talks Tobacco and Vaping
You might not have heard of David Goerlitz before, but if you remember the 1980s it’s pretty certain you also remember the Winston Man. Star of one of the cigarette industry’s most influential advertising campaigns, the Winston Man got to do all the adventurous things most of us can only dream of – and he did it all with a cigarette jutting from his chiseled face. David Goerlitz was the actor behind this marketing sensation until, in a dramatic move, he walked away from
The History Of Tobacco In Society – Its A Long Story
If you listen to public health activists you get the impression tobacco was invented sometime in the 1920s, probably as a plot to addict children. The truth, of course, is a bit different. Humans and tobacco share a long history and most of it isn’t about commercial exploitation. Tobacco's origins lie in the rain forests and mountains of South America. These areas are a bit of a treasure chest when it comes to plants; we owe the region for potatoes, tomatoes and bell peppers. Biologically these are all
Cutting Down on Smoking: A Guide for New Vapers
Cutting down on smoking or quitting using e-cigarettes is why most vapers get started, but accomplishing it isn’t easy. Smoking is very addictive, and even though vaping offers you the nicotine you’re looking for, it is still a challenge for most vapers to successfully quit smoking. Vaping is a fantastic tool, but it isn’t a “magic bullet” solution to your smoking addiction. You’ll still need willpower, and you’ll still need to plan your approach carefully to give yourself the best chance of success, from
The Facts About Switching from Smoking to Vaping
Is vaping safer than smoking? This is the question everyone wants to know the answer to, and although the lack of long-term evidence makes it a little difficult to be absolutely certain, there is a lot of evidence building up to support the conclusions of Public Health England and the Royal College of Physicians, who both looked at the evidence and said vaping is vastly safer than smoking. But what are the key facts about vaping vs. smoking? If you’re a smoker, will starting
Smoking and Pets
We all know that smoking is bad for us and can cause cancer, heart attacks, strokes and even death but many smokers don’t think about the effect on their beloved pets. However, research has continuously shown that pets can also be deeply affected by second hand smoke in the home. This leaves many smokers with a dilemma as to whether they should quit smoking or move their animal friends out of the home. Is this necessary though? Won't moving to e-cigarettes reduce harm some
Should There Be An Age Limit Of 21 On Smoking Related Products?
With more states and cities limiting the sale of tobacco related products to over-21s there has been increased discussion about whether or not the age restriction should be imposed on a national level. Alcohol products bear the same age restriction and are arguably less harmful than smoking, but should all tobacco products including vapes have such sale limitations put on them?For Research from the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids found that 95% of adult smokers began before they turned 21. Whilst a lot try before
Smoking & Your Senses
Being a smoker comes with some substantial problems, a higher risk of developing a variety of life threatening diseases as well as cancer, not to mention the day to day downsides of the smell and skin yellowing. With all this in mind there are many reasons to make the switch from smoking to vaping. One affect that is seldom discussed is the impact that smoking has on your sense of smell and taste. Both these senses can be diminished by years of smoking, meaning
Quitting Smoking, the Fun Way: Why Vaping is a Godsend for Smokers
Those opposed to vaping like to concoct doomsday scenarios. When you have limited evidence on which to base your pre-determined opposition to the technology, grasping at straws is part of the game. One of the key rallying calls of the opposition to vaping is that “there’s no evidence they’re effective for quitting!” This is a pretty insidious strategy, because – even though even most of those opposed to e-cigs will ultimately admit that vaping is much safer than smoking – it’s no good if vapers