Australian ban; Egar illegal

[cucurucho]

Originally Posted by deewal

Cigarettes contain nicotene which is for human consumption ?
How do they get around this ban ?
Don't you have Any opposition politicians in Victoria ?

Nicotine in tobacco is exempt from all the usual restrictions. The whole situation utterly ridiculous.

[TropicalBob]

Cigarettes are exempt because nicotine is a natural byproduct of tobacco combustion. Our nicotine is synthesized, a pure chemical. To government regulatory agencies, that's a big difference.

In the U.S., cigarettes have their own regulatory government agency. And they have history and money behind them.

E-stuff has neither.

I think outside of Australia we're looking at one of two possible declarations: Nicotine for inhalation purposes is a drug that will be classified as medicinal, requiring extensive regulation and a prescription to obtain; or it's a toxic poison in strengths needed for e-smoking, requiring a full ban to protect the innocent.

[TheEmperorOfIceCream]

Yeah, can't really argue that, Bob. The latter is more likely (far less labour-intensive).

I really need to start stockpiling...

Emp

[jacknthemonkeys]

the people who will attack us will use the "flavored" liquid against us. if we get non-flav nic liquid and flavor it ourselves, it might help our cause.

[TropicalBob]

That is one of many arguments that will be used. But it might not get to that. See the latest posts in the FDA Approval thread. The FDA disapproved all of the E-Cig products when they were submitted to that agency in late November. The FDA said this was a "new drug" and needed to follow regulations for drug approval. Drug for what? Smoking cessation? Get ready for years of testing that won't be done. Drug for fun? It's a toxin. Besides, the FDA has authorized other, approved nicotine delivery systems. It is under no pressure to approve yet another method.

And if E-Cig continues to sell these products to America via the Internet, then E-Cig will be selling unapproved drugs, which will lead to enforcement against such unapproved sales. No one would argue that unapproved drugs should be allowed, would they? This goose is all but cooked. We're waiting for the timer to buzz.

[jacknthemonkeys]

I know that there is little to nothing I can do to keep my "holy grail" of asthmatic smoking, TB. I just want to believe that there is a way and that we can fight it and get a movie (not indie) ending. Hopefully by the time it all goes down I'll have enough supplies to last me long enough to get off the nic.

[TropicalBob]

Makes me very angry. We finally get a relatively inexpensive, enjoyable and effective alternative to smoking cigarettes ... and it likely will be banned.

For me, NRT is worthless. Too weak, too expensive. E-smoking works. For me, nicotine is not a drug. It belongs atop my Food Pyramid, with coffee just below it. For me, taxes are putting cigarettes out of my reach. E-smoking is affordable and I even can make my own flavored liquids.

So now we could lose it? No, no, a thousand times no. Where is a leading manufacturer who will qualify and legalize this nicotine inhaler? Where is the company willing to submit to inspection and regulation, instead of shoveling out unapproved products of unknown quality?

I swear, I'd pay Ruyan prices to keep doing this. I'd gladly pay Janty prices if they will lead the way for us. But someone has to prevent even a temporary ban. Once momentum ceases, it might not be regained down the road.

[jacknthemonkeys]

It's good to see the fire TB. I think too many people fold their hands with small raises these days. If we can light some fires under some of the people that seem to be giving up, I'll feel it was all worth it. even if we lose.

[TropicalBob]

We need to keep this thread high until all issues on this are settled. This was posted earlier about the ban:

The new regulation, which comes into effect tomorrow, outlaws the manufacture, sale, supply, purchase, possession or use of unregulated nicotine delivery systems.

Note those words. Are they true? Or is the ban being applied only to sale of liquid and advertising of the devices, as one poster suggested. Has "use" and "possesson" been made illegal? And is it only Victoria?

[cucurucho]

Originally Posted by TropicalBob

Note those words. Are they true? Or is the ban being applied only to sale of liquid and advertising of the devices, as one poster suggested. Has "use" and "possesson" been made illegal? And is it only Victoria?

Well this is the conclusion that I've come to based on a hell of a lot of reading, emails and phone calls:

1. The ban does not include devices unless they contain nicotine.
2. Only devices or preparations containing nicotine that are not registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration are banned.
3. Nicotine (when not in tobacco, used for NRT or for use with animals) was already considered a schedule 7 poison in other states (at least in NSW) before the ban in Victoria. See Australian state and territory regulatory controls on Schedule 7 poisons
4. Supply of liquids/devices containing nicotine is illegal and enforced.
5. Possession/use is illegal, but not enforced.

I realise I'm no authority on the matter, but most of this information I received over the phone, and I have no record of it. If anyone else wants to get some more solid evidence, please do