Should we attend?

[california_girl]

I got this announcement by email yesterday and I was wondering if maybe someone should attend, and possibly try to engage some of these people in a dialog about personal vaporizers. What do you think?

Here is the link to the announcement:

Implementing the Tobacco Control Act

[Vocalek]

I think someone who lives in the area should attend if possilble. My concern about the TCA is that there is already talk about reducing the nicotine in cigarettes -- in other words they want to repeat the fiasco of the "light cigarette." They already KNOW what will happen, but they want to pretend that they will get different results by doing the same thing (defintion of insanity).

Do it their way and smokers are just going to start getting sicker because they are taking in more tar, carbon monoxide, and toxins.

And how this applies to PVs is that if the "reduce the nicotine" crowd prevails, guess what they will want to do to the nicotine in your cartridges?

The absolute # of smokers has gone UP since 1990 (from 43.8M to over 45M). Their approach isn't working. It's time to go with the approach that does work: Nicotine maintenance, providing an amount of nicotine that is high enough that people don't have any urge to smoke tobacco.

We have a "nicotine maintenance" product now that appears to be working fantastically well. Let's try to keep them from ruining it.

[california_girl]

Vocalek, I am willing to attend this meeting, since I live here in the Bay area. I would like to maybe get an organized group together to present our information in a reasonable and rational way. Any suggestions?

[I am Nico]

i say we go in with our e-cigarettes and start vaping in front of everybody and piss em off...hmm... i dont belong in san francisco.. lol .. im not peaceful at all

[california_girl]

I am Nico, i appreciate that you have a right to your own opinion, but your idea is definitely not the type of impression that we should be trying to make. We want to educate people not antagonize them. The action that you are suggesting is part of the problem not the solution. We will not help our cause with a f@#$ you in your face attitude. We will, however, alienate people if we do as you suggest. I, for one, will not antagonize our opponents by doing anything to provoke a negative response.

[TropicalBob]

Good for you, California Girl. There are seriously misguided folks roaming this forum. As for attending, that meeting is on TOBACCO CONTROL. And e-cigs aren't a tobacco product. We are still waiting for a definitive federal judge's decision on that issue, but the outcome seems certain. E-cigs are a drug product, under FDA drug rules.

Either way -- drug or tobacco -- the FDA will control them. What I'd suggest is attending, listening closely, and not volunteering to speak unless electronic cigarettes are mentioned by a regulatory person at the meeting.

I think any such meeting will overflow with health nazis (not on our side at all). You don't want to get caught up in an emotional exchange with them. There is no winning such an exchange, no matter what you say or how you say it. Opposition will only harden when challenged or made to look ignorant.

Speak in defense of electronic cigarettes only if the issue is raised and you feel you can contribute something positive in defense of them.

P.S. That 2:30 conference will be the best. Neal Benowitz has more knowledge of nicotine and nicotine addiction than just anyone in America. He's on the panel. But just look at those topics! This is "hang 'em high" time for all things tobacco related.

[Turbolover]

I would attend but I'm on call for jury duty next week and I'm on vacation this week so I don't think I can get Friday off. I could try to switch my Saturday and get Friday off if others are going to attend.

[TropicalBob]

The last thing e-smoking needs is a mob demonstration at a tobacco control conference. Just look at the names that will be attending. These are giants, and they are NOT on our side. I'd be quiet as a mouse at a conference like that.

We are not a tobacco product. We do not smoke. We are not smokers.

This conference is a modern day lynch party formulating plans for the hanging of tobacco. Be very careful what you might say and to whom in that environment.

[lashmn]

Hey, Neighbor to the North (Naples here). You make many valuable and valid points, as usual. This does not sound like the forum for e-cigs and we certainly don't want to antagonize anyone in a position to interfer with our rights anymore than they already are.

Lynn

[TheBoogieman]

Good luck going. But be prepared.
Prof. Stanton Glantz, Professor of Medicine and Director, Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education is beyond an anti smoking fanatic. Hes an anti smoking psycho.
Read up on him.
I read up on him when the smoking bans first came around. Don't use science on him.
He has no belief in it.