Our Latest Updates – Archive

On Oct. 12, 2021, the FDA authorized the Vuse e-cigarette and cartridges, marketed by R.J. Reynolds one of the world’s largest cigarette manufacturers. The move is the first time the FDA authorized any vaping product. According to a statement from the FDA, the organization “determined that the potential benefit to smokers who switch completely or significantly reduce their cigarette use, would outweigh the risk to youth.

CBD sales for pets are expected to jump to $629 million in 2021 as more people work from home and adopt “pandemic pets.” What do you think about giving your pets CBD?

64.1% voted to legalize gay marriage, to allow lesbian couples to access sperm banks and to allow all gay couples to adopt children. The law will likely take effect in July 2022. Italy remains the only country in western Europe that does not allow same-sex marriage, though it does allow civil unions.

Explore the debate with updated and new questions, resources, and more.

A Sep. 22, 2021 Marquette Law School survey found 20% were in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade, 50% were opposed, and 29% said they didn’t have enough information. Two other surveys support the findings.

Domestically, China is the biggest producer of greenhouse gas emissions, largest producer of coal, and biggest financier of coal-powered plants.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D) married long-time partner Marlon Reis on Sep. 15, 2021, in the first same-sex marriage of a sitting US governor. Polis was the first openly gay man elected as governor in the US and the second openly LGBTQ+ person elected governor, after Oregon Governor Kate Brown who identifies as bisexual.

The World Anti-Doping Agency stated: “[F]ollowing receipt of requests from a number of stakeholders, the ExCo [Executive Committee] endorsed the decision of the List Expert Advisory Group to initiate in 2022 a scientific review of the status of cannabis. Cannabis is currently prohibited in competition and will continue to be in 2022.”

On Sep. 9, 2021, the deadline for reviewing vaping products, the FDA announced that they had made decisions on 93% of the 6.5 million submitted applications for “deemed” new tobacco products (“‘deemed’ new” means the FDA newly has authority to review the products but the products may already be on the market), including denying 946,000 vaping products “because their applications lacked sufficient evidence that they have a benefit to adult smokers to overcome the public health threat posed by the well-documented, alarming levels of youth use.” The FDA had taken no action on JUUL products as of Sep. 9.

On Sep. 9, 2021, Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest in the country, mandated the COVID-19 vaccine for students ages 12 and up by Jan. 10, 2022, the first in the country to mandate the coronavirus vaccine

On Sep. 2, 2021, Mexico became the 41st country and first in North America to ban cosmetics testing on animals, according to the Humane Society International.

On Sep. 1, 2021, the most restrictive “fetal heartbeat” law to date went into effect in Texas after the US Supreme Court refused in a 5-4 vote to block the law. The law bars abortions after six weeks, has no exceptions for rape or incest, and has only a narrow exception for the health of the mother. Further, the law bars state officials from enforcing the law, instead deputizing private citizens who may bring a $10,000 lawsuit (plus legal fees) against anyone they suspect of performing or “aiding and abetting” an abortion, making the law more difficult to challenge in court.

Explore the question of whether parents or other adults should be able to ban books from schools and libraries with this updated Top 3 article.

A three-judge panel issued a preliminary injunction declaring that people convicted of felonies who have completed their prison time must be allowed to register to vote immediately. The injunction restored the right to vote to about 56,000 people who are on probation, parole or post-release supervision. The injunction may be appealed.

From 2015 to 2019, ride-hailing app use increased from 15% of Americans to 36%. Explore the debate about whether the apps are a social benefit in an updated top 3 article.