Why the LGBT community is among the hardest hit by smoking

WASHINGTON, D.C. — It is not an accident that smoking rates among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth are twice the rate for the general population. For decades, African Americans, low-income neighborhoods, LGBTQ communities and those with mental illness have been disproportionally profiled by the tobacco industry with aggressive advertising and promotional efforts. Tobacco is not…

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California Legislature approves bill to ban smoking at state beaches and parks

SACRAMENTO – State senators Tuesday approved a bill by State Sen. Marty Block (D-San Diego) that would ban smoking or disposal of tobacco products at a state owned or operated beach or park. The measure, SB 1333, will now head to the governor. Block said his bill is an overdue step in protecting California’s natural…

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Smoking at California state beaches and parks on way to becoming history

SACRAMENTO –A bill that would ban smoking or disposal of tobacco products at a California state owned or operated beach or park was approved today by the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee on a nine to five vote. Sen. Marty Block (D-San Diego) said his bill, SB 1333, would help California fulfill its obligation…

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State Senate approves measure to ban smoking at state parks and beaches

SACRAMENTO – California’s state senate Tuesday approved SB 1333 which would ban smoking or disposal of tobacco products at a state owned or operated beach or park. “We have an obligation to value and preserve our environmental treasures,” said Sen. Marty Block, the measure’s author. “SB 1333 will help to keep our state parks and…

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UCSD study: Online e-cigarette vendors aggressively engage customers using popular Internet tools

First introduced in the United States in 2007, electronic cigarettes have risen dramatically in part because they are popularly considered safer and more socially acceptable than combustible cigarettes and because there are fewer restrictions on their purchase and use. A study by University of California, San Diego School of Medicine researchers published in the journal…

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New study reveals smoking cessation drug not boosting number of smokers who quit

The introduction of a new prescription smoking-cessation aid, varenicline, in 2006 has had no significant impact on the rate at which Americans age 18 and older successfully quit smoking, according to a study led by researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. The findings, published online Aug. 17 in Tobacco Control, suggest…

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Study reveals that smokers who use e-cigarettes less likely to quit

The rapid increase in use of e-cigarettes has led to heated debates between opponents who question the safety of these devices and proponents who claim the battery-operated products are a useful cessation tool. A study, published online  April 16 in the American Journal of Public Health, suggests proponents are in error. University of California, San…

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