In a rare move, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) revoked the firearm manufacturing license of Nevada-based JA Industries last week in response to a lawsuit, according to a new court filing. ATF did not specify in the filing on what grounds the license was revoked. The bureau’s decision came after a…

Walmart will stop selling cigarettes across select stores in the United States, the retail giant confirmed on Monday, citing a “business decision.” “We are always looking at ways to meet our customers’ needs while still operating an efficient business,” Walmart said in a statement to the Wall Street Journal. “As a result of our ongoing focus on…

An Ontario court has once again extended an order putting legal proceedings against three tobacco giants on hold as they continue negotiating a settlement with their creditors. Ontario Superior Court Justice Thomas McEwen agreed Tuesday to extend the stay for JTI-Macdonald Corp., Rothmans, Benson & Hedges and Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd. until Sept. 30, 2022….

The World Health Organization says it is expecting to reject the COVID-19 vaccine candidate from Canada’s Medicago because of the company’s ties to big tobacco. The Medicago Covifenz vaccine was authorized in Canada last month. Dr. Mariângela Simão, WHO’s assistant director general for drug access, vaccines and pharmaceuticals, says the application for Covifenz to get…

New Zealand announced it plans to ban the sales of cigarettes to the next generation as part of the government’s new plan to make the country smokefree. “This is a historic day for the health of our people,” Associate Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall said during the announcement of the Smokefree 2025 Action Plan on…

More than five million illegal cigarettes have been seized from local retail outlets in the first six months of this year, Trading Standards said. The haul of illicit products included more than 1,700 kg (3,700 lbs) of hand-rolled tobacco and 66 kg of (145 lbs) shisha. In total, more than £2.7 million ($3.7 million) worth…

WASHINGTON—Scientists have unearthed evidence of a milestone in human culture—the earliest-known use of tobacco—in the remnants of a hearth built by early inhabitants of North America’s interior about 12,300 years ago in Utah’s Great Salt Lake Desert. Researchers discovered four charred seeds of a wild tobacco plant within the hearth contents, along with stone tools…

LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer urged the City Council to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco, including hookah, instead of the current draft ordinance excluding hookah from the ban on Sept. 23. The Los Angeles City Council on June 16 directed the City Attorney to draft an ordinance to ban flavored tobacco…

The City of Laguna Beach will consider an ordinance at their Sept. 21 council meeting that could restrict the sale of vape and tobacco products.  Brought forward by Councilmember George Weiss, the resolution, if voted for by the majority of council members would direct city staff to research and analyze the issue, draft an ordinance…

Cigar diplomacy is back—and once again it is clouding the landscape for an American president. As the Cold War raged in 1962, a trade embargo against Fidel Castro’s communist government in Cuba was an easy political call for John F. Kennedy. The president had a personal conflict-of-interest, however: JFK loved a good smoke. So he…