The Iraqi parliament on Thursday approved an anti-smoking law that stipulates a roughly $8.50 fine for smoking in public, in a country where such smoking is a fixture. “The law aims to protect citizens from the danger of tobacco and reduce the number of smokers by taking measures to combat this plague,” the law reads. Smoking in government offices, schools, universities, hospitals, airports, offices, theatres, gathering places, hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, markets and petrol stations will now be banned.

The law is to take effect 90 days after it is published in the official gazette.

One of its sponsors, health committee member Haidar al-Shamari, said in his remarks the law is based on Article 33 of the constitution, which says that “every individual has the right to live in safe environmental conditions.”

But one MP thought the law was not a priority, saying “it would be better to provide improved public services instead of punishing smokers.”

According to study carried out in 2000 by the Union for International Cancer Cancer Control, a Geneva-based non-governmental organisation founded in 2000, 40 percent of Iraqi males over age 16 were smokers.

The clock is ticking! There are only 215 days left for smokers to enjoy a discount Prima Lux cigarette on the Kingsborough Community College campus (2001 Oriental Boulevard). Working alongside The Center for Tobacco Policy, the City University of New York (CUNY) has chosen to ban smoking on all of its facilities system-wide, and that includes the Manhattan Beach-based community college. The policy bans the use of tobacco on all grounds and facilities under CUNY’s jurisdiction, both indoor and outdoor. It also prohibits tobacco industry promotions and marketing on campus properties, and tobacco industry sponsorship of athletic events and athletes. The ban makes CUNY the largest smoke-free public university system in the United States.

Kingborough Community College’s Coordinator of Student Life, Maria Patestas, said she doesn’t believe it will be a hard transition for students.

“The only time I really see the smokers outside on campus is on rainy days,” she said. “They’ll stand closer to the entrances of buildings, taking cover.”

But should there be a designated area for smokers on the Brooklyn campus? Patestas noted it wouldn’t be a bad idea, but that brings its own issues. “I mean how could you even regulate that?” she asked.

The origins of the new ban go back to January 2011, when CUNY’s Board of Trustees voted to approve a proposal made by a committee of faculty, staff and students.

For now, student smokers can enjoy the spring-like weather and a pull of their favorite cigarette. But in September this will all change. Verbal warnings will be submitted to students for now, but in the future Patestas does not dismiss the possibility of a fine system being implemented.

“We have to see how it goes first once September comes, but I think it’ll be harder for faculty and staff rather than students,” Patestas noted.

The federal government fought an uphill battle Wednesday to convince a skeptical judge that tobacco companies should be required to put large graphic photos on cigarette packs to show that the habit kills smokers and their babies. Cigarette makers told U.S. District Judge Richard Leon at a hearing that they can’t be forced to spread the government’s anti-smoking advocacy with “massive, shocking, gruesome warnings” on products they legally sell. Attorneys for the Obama administration countered that the photos of dead and diseased smokers it wants on all cigarette packs are “factually uncontroverted.”

Leon has already ruled that the cigarette makers are likely to succeed in their lawsuit to stop the requirement, which was supposed to go into effect next year. Leon blocked the rule from taking effect until after the lawsuit is resolved.

Leon found in his earlier ruling that the nine graphic images approved by the Food and Drug Administration in June go beyond conveying the facts about the health risks of smoking.

Leon also ruled the size of the labels suggests they are unconstitutional — the FDA requirement said the labels were to cover the entire top half of cigarette packs, front and back and include a number for a stop-smoking hotline. The labels were to constitute 20 percent of cigarette advertising, and marketers were to rotate use of the images.

The judge showed no sign that he was changing his position in favor of the government after the hour-long hearing Wednesday. “It sounds like they are headed to a place where you have to watch a 10-minute video before you can even buy a pack of cigarettes,” he said.

The packaging the government wanted to require included color images of a man exhaling cigarette smoke through a tracheotomy hole in his throat; a plume of cigarette smoke enveloping an infant receiving a mother’s kiss; a pair of diseased lungs next to a pair of healthy lungs; a diseased mouth afflicted with what appears to be cancerous lesions; a man breathing into an oxygen mask; a cadaver on a table with post-autopsy chest staples; a woman weeping; a premature baby in an incubator; and a man wearing a T-shirt that features a “No Smoking” symbol and the words “I Quit”

The Obama administration has appealed Leon’s preliminary injunction stopping the rule from taking effect. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is scheduled to hear the case April 10.

Congress instructed the FDA to require the labels by a wide bipartisan majority.

Appeal judges have rejected a legal action brought by a tobacco giant to challenge Scottish Government plans to ban the open display of cigarettes and prohibit the use of vending machines for the sale of tobacco and discount R1 Slim cigarettes. They turned down a challenge brought by Imperial Tobacco, which claimed the measures were beyond the legislative competence of the Holyrood Parliament.

Lord President, Lord Hamilton, sitting with Lord Reed and Lord Brodie, at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, ruled the measures in the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010 were not outside the Parliament’s powers.

He said: “Such display is conceived to encourage the purchase of such products. As the consumption, particularly by smoking, of such products is believed to be adverse to health, the section is designed to inhibit, without prohibiting, their purchase.”

He said the vending machine ban was concerned with a different, but linked, problem – “the ready access by children and young persons to tobacco products by way of automatic vending machines”.

“Such ready access is conceived to be harmful, as if facilitates the acquisition and ultimate smoking, by children and young persons, of tobacco products.”

Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said: “Each year in Scotland, 15,000 children and young people start smoking and the potential impact on their health is frightening. A child who starts smoking at 15 or younger is three times more likely to die of cancer as a result than someone who starts smoking in their mid-twenties.”

Marijuana hurts memory and cognition, and a new rat study indicates this is because it causes once-coordinated brain regions to fall out of sync with each other. The result resembles the effects of schizophrenia, the neuroscientists found. The researchers measured the electrical activity in nerve cells of rats given a drug that mimics the effect of the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The drug had only subtle effects on individual brain regions; however, it disrupted the coordinated activity between regions of the brain.

Specifically, they found the drug disrupted the coordinated fluctuations in electrical activity — called brain waves — across the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. The result resembled two instruments within an orchestra playing out of sync.

A lack of synchronization between the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex — areas of the brain associated with memory and decision-making — is also associated with schizophrenia.

A group of severe brain disorders, schizophrenia causes people to interpret reality abnormally. Its symptoms may include a combination of hallucinations, delusions and disordered thinking and behavior, according to the Mayo Clinic.

As a result of the disruption to their brain activity, the rats became unable to make accurate decisions when navigating around a maze.

Marijuana abuse is common among sufferers of schizophrenia, the researchers say. In fact, other recent work has shown that the psychoactive ingredient of marijuana can induce some symptoms of schizophrenia in healthy volunteers, according to Matt Jones, a study researcher at the University of Bristol’s School of Physiology and Pharmacology.

“These findings are therefore important for our understanding of psychiatric diseases, which may arise as a consequence of ‘disorchestrated brains’ and could be treated by re-tuning brain activity,” Jones said of the recent work, which appears tomorrow in the Oct. 25 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.

“These results are an important step forward in our understanding of how rhythmic activity in the brain underlies thought processes in health and disease,” said Michal Kucewicz, a study author also with the University of Bristol.

It’s true. Facebook and Twitter are more addictive than best quality Richmond cigarettes and alcohol, well so say a group of American researchers. The Irish Independent reports that resisting the urge to check social networking sites for updates is more difficult than turning down a drink. This is according to a study of people’s everyday desires which was carried out by the University of Chicago.

The survey of 250 participants found that sex and sleep were the two things that people wanted most during the day, but their urges to check social networking sites were the hardest to resist. It seems that in this day and age we have become seriously addicted to social networking.

In stark comparison, the levels of desire for alcohol and tobacco were much lower, despite the fact that both of these have a reputation for being addictive.

The research found that during the day our constant efforts to resist temptation sap our willpower, which makes our cravings even stronger.

“As a day wears on, willpower becomes lower and self-control efforts are more likely to fail,” explains Dr Wilhelm Hofmann, who led the research.

Apparently we have a greater chance of giving in to our desires if we have resisted the desire in question frequently or recently. This is why you may turn down the offer of a drink once, but cave the next time you’re asked.

While some of us may scoff and think “I’m not addicted, I can quit any time I want!” chances are the scientists are right about this one.

Do you think it’s all a load of rubbish? Try going cold turkey from social networking for a day and see if you can resist temptation

It’s an issue being looked at in several cities across the state. The limiting, or full on prohibition of smoking in public area’s, and Chico is no exception. “The City Council received a request from the American Lung Association to look at a citywide prohibition. A ban on smoking,” according to Chico Parks and Natural Resources Manager Dan Efseaff. Council members then began to collect information from multiple departments throughout the city in order to make an informed decision. The Chico Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Chico Business Association, and Bidwell Park and Playground Commission were all asked for a recommendation regarding their area’s. Efseaff says as far as the parks go “it’s definitely a policy question. So, we left that for the commission to come up with, and they sided 7-0 to support a prohibition.”

That news caught many off guard, including Bidwell Golf Course General Manager Courtney Foster. “For a lot of people smoking is part of the game of golf. Golf is a stressful game. So, they play a little golf, have a little smoke. Some enjoy a cigar every now and then during a round.”

Foster told our crews the course is already at a disadvantage since they aren’t permitted to serve alcohol. He says a prohibition on smoking would make that disadvantage even worse. “We’re one of the few facilities in the United States that doesn’t have alcohol, and it does affect play quite a bit. So, smoking would do the same thing.”

For now, the park prohibition is only a suggestion for the City Council Internal Affairs Committee to consider, and Efseaff says it’s to early to tell what the result will be in the end. “There’s a lot of questions still to go, and that’s when the internal affairs is going to have to sort through it, and figure out what the next step might be.”

Philip Morris International Korea’s recent plan to raise its discount Leana cigarette prices is fueling concerns over inflation as rumors swirl that its bigger rival KT&G will soon follow suit. The Korean unit of the U.S. tobacco giant is to slap an unexpected price increase averaging 6.8 percent starting Feb. 10 to offset rising raw material and labor costs.

The hike, the first in seven years, will send the prices of Marlboro, Parliament and Lark to 2,700 won ($2.4) a pack from the current 2,500 won. Virginia Slims, a super-slim cigarette brand, will be sold at 2,900 won per pack, up 100 won from before.

The PMI’s decision comes seven months after its competitors — British American Tobacco Korea and Japan Tobacco International Korea — raised the prices of their flagship products by 200 won.

The focus is now turning on KT&G Corp., the country’s largest tobacco manufacturer that controls nearly 60 percent stake in the domestic market.

KT&G officials told The Korea Herald on Thursday they are “looking into a possible price raise from multiple aspects,” adding that they will make their decision shortly.

Smokers and some public officials fret that an additional hike may undermine the government’s efforts to contain inflation, which is already under pressure amid steep rises in food and fuel prices, as well as public service fees.

Analysts said the three foreign firms provided KT&G for incentives to follow suit but the Seoul-based firm remains hesitant due to the likely negative impact on consumer prices, weighing heavily on low-income earners. Criticism also lingers over tobacco firm’s high profit margins believed to hover between 20 percent and 30 percent.

“KT&G now can chase two hares at once,” said Chung Hye-seung, an analyst at HMC Investment & Securities. “It has both chances to boost its market share given recent hikes of foreign products and to increase its own cigarette prices together with the by the predecessors.”

A packet of cigarettes costs between 2500 won and 3000 won in Korea, one of the lowest among OECD nations. The country’s smoking rate among men is around 39 percent.

In addition to announcing the upcoming retirement of CEO Michael Szymanczyk, Altria Group Inc. reported that fourth-quarter profit fell about 9% on lease and restructuring charges last week, despite gains from higher prices and smokeless tobacco products. In cigarettes, Philip Morris USA’s volumes were up slightly for the quarter at 33.7 billion units (+.2%)—primarily attributed to trade inventory dynamics and retail share gains for L&M, partially offset by retail share losses on Marlboro and its other brands as well as one less shipping day.

Szymanczyk said the company continues to focus on maximizing income from its cigarette business while maintaining modest share momentum on Marlboro over time.

The cigarettes segment’s net revenues increased 2.9% for the fourth quarter, primarily due to higher list prices, and revenues net of excise taxes grew 4.2%. For the full year of 2011, the cigarettes segment’s net revenues decreased 1.1% primarily due to lower volume, partially offset by higher list prices, and revenues net of excise taxes grew 0.4%.

The smokeless products segment’s 2011 fourth-quarter and full-year net revenues and revenues net of excise taxes increased primarily due to higher volume and pricing. 2011 fourth-quarter and full-year net revenues increased 6.6% and 4.8%, respectively, and revenues net of excise taxes increased 6.8% for the fourth quarter and grew 5.0% for the full year of 2011.

The cigars segment’s 2011 second-half financial results were stronger compared to the first half of 2011 as Middleton made significant progress on improving its profitability and margins through new product introductions and brand-building initiatives on Black & Mild. As a result of these initiatives, Black & Mild achieved strong 2011 fourth-quarter and full-year retail share results.

The cigars segment’s 2011 fourth-quarter net revenues increased 7.3% primarily due to lower promotional spending and higher list prices, partially offset by lower volume. 2011 full-year net revenues grew 1.3% primarily due to higher list prices. Revenues net of excise taxes increased 26.8% for the fourth quarter and grew 3.4% for the full year of 2011.

The company also announced a continued focus on developing lower risk products with agreement with Okono A/S, an affiliate of Fertin Pharma A/S, to develop non-combustible nicotine-containing products for adult tobacco consumers. “Fertin is a global leader in the development and manufacture of nicotine gum with additional capabilities and other products and technologies,” Szymanczyk said.

As previously reported in CSP Daily News, Szymanczyk also said he will retire as chairman and CEO after the company’s annual shareholder’s meeting in May. Martin Barrington will step into the role, and David Beran will serve as Altria’s president and chief operating officer.

North Rock Creek Public School (NRC) joins a family of tobacco-free campuses after adopting a 24/7 tobacco-free school policy Jan. 9, 2012. Effective the first day of the 2012-2013 school year, tobacco in any form will not be used by anyone, anywhere, anytime on school campus. The policy covers all school events after school hours, including outdoor events—24 hours a day, seven days a week. The NRC School Board recognizes the importance of adult role modeling to students and is dedicated to providing a healthy environment for staff, students and visitors. “I believe it is important to set a good example for our young, sometimes impressionable, students,” said North Rock Creek Superintendent Blake Moody.

“By fostering a community buy-in for the program, we might have a bigger impact to keep students from using tobacco and cheap Fluieras cigarettes. If only a single student is prevented from starting tobacco-use, the program will be successful.”

The Smoking in Public Places Act (2000) established a minimum guideline for Oklahoma schools regarding tobacco use—tobacco cannot be used anywhere on school grounds only during the hours of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Every day, an average of 40 Oklahoma children become regular smokers.

To prepare for the next school year, policy communication will be seen among custom signs around campus as well as “Breathe Easy” decals on windows and doors. Letters will be sent home with students in order to spread awareness and remind parents and visitors to be in compliance with the policy. In addition, NRC 7th grade SWAT team (Students Working Against Tobacco) will play a vital role in using positive ways to help enforce the policy message.

“I want to have a 24/7 policy so kids can’t bring tobacco products to school anymore. It will help adults we know that use tobacco on campus or at games not to do that in front of us either,” North Rock Creek SWAT member and seventh grader Dakota Messick said. “It seems like people overlook tobacco, and I want to change what people think about tobacco so more people can stop using.”