Session: Blockchain Technology – The Solution To Illicit Products And Age Verification

Speaker: – Ed Carmines, Bryan Burd, Kevin Burd, Jason Carignan

Date: September 8th, 2024 – Atlanta, GA

About The Poster:

According to the National Youth Tobacco Survey, 2.8 million U.S. youth reported using a commercial tobacco product in 2023. The most commonly used tobacco product in middle and high school aged students were e-cigarettes with 89% using flavored (i.e., menthol, mint, clove or spice, alcoholic drinks, candy, fruit, chocolate, or any other flavor other than tobacco) e-cigarettes. The FDA’s PMTA authorization decisions are based on a public health standard that considers the risks and benefits of the product on the population. T date, the agency has not authorized any flavored e-cigarettes and has denied millions of applications due to lack of evidence demonstrating an added benefit to adult smokers that outweighs the substantial risk of youth initiation and use of flavored e-cigarette products. Blockchain technology offers an immutable way to identify products and users. IKE has developed a new patented technology incorporating blockchain technology into Bluetooth chips used in electronic devices and also incorporating the same technology in smartphone applications. The technology ensures that devices enabled with the technology cannot be copied and/or hacked and that the smartphone application will only function with identified individuals at any time. The combination of both attributes prevents illicit products and also underage use.