Alex Clark was CEO of the Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association (CASAA) before its closure in 2025.
Alex smoked cigarettes for more than 20 years before switching to vaping in 2013,—a personal experience that has informed his decade of advocacy for consumer access to safer nicotine products. During his tenure as CEO, Alex led local, state, and national legislative strategies and oversaw CASAA’s advocacy efforts.
CASAA, a grassroots consumer advocacy group, remained independent in its policies and messaging, advocating for affordable and legal access to safer smoking alternatives. However, this independence came with little to no funding, as government, public health, and tobacco companies sought to ban the sale of 90% of currently used products, favoring a highly restricted “authorized” product market that did not meet consumer needs.
Despite its closure, CASAA.org remains a valuable educational resource that documents the history of vaping, explains tobacco harm reduction, and celebrates the consumer-led revolution in adopting safer nicotine products. CASAA was a tireless voice for consumers who switched from combustion to safer, smoke-free nicotine products. They did this work on a shoestring, a testament to the power of people’s stories and lived experiences, and a reminder that their voices are still too often ignored.
