Smoke free Wisconsin Opposes Smoke Free Electronic Cigarettes

[kristin]

Dr. Siegel has written about these guys in the past and now they're at it again. The original blog won't let you post any negative or pro e-cig comments, so I made my own response post that people can feel free to comment on! Maybe when people google "Smoke Free Wisconsin+e-cigs" they'll get this post instead!

Wisconsin Vaporizers Blog: Smoke Free Wisconsin Opposes Smoke Free Electronic Cigarettes

[Vocalek]

How could I resist leaving a comment when you quoted me?

[Stubby]

If you have an account with facebook you can leave comments on the Smoke Free Wisconsin facebook page.

You do have to become a friend of smoke free Wisconsin to post.

[wiscoking13]

If you have an account with facebook you can leave comments on the Smoke Free Wisconsin facebook page.

You do have to become a friend of smoke free Wisconsin to post.

done, although it won't be up there for long

[Bill Godshall]

The director of Smokefree Wisconsin is Maureen Busalacchi, and her e-mail is sfw@smokefreewi.org

I urge e-cigarette users to send her an e-mail letting her know that you quit smoking by switching to e-cigarettes.

[Mac]

The director of Smokefree Wisconsin is Maureen Busalacchi, and her e-mail is sfw@smokefreewi.org
I urge e-cigarette users to send her an e-mail letting her know that you quit smoking by switching to e-cigarettes.

Thank you Mr Godshall for all you have done on the behalf of us the persecuted.

As per your suggestion I have sent the following letter:

I am writing to urge you to reconsider your position on e-cigarettes. The attitude of quit or die is incredibly unrealistic. half a million americans die every year because of this attitude. Electronic cigarettes have helped keep me, my fiancee, my mother, my father and dozens of my close personal friends away from tobacco for nearly 10 months. I no longer cough and wheeze. I no longer smell like a pile of burnt leaves. I feel better and so do the rest of my family. Why do you want us to die? Why have you chosen to take such a hard, closed minded and unethical stance? What did we ever do to you? Do you wish to be remembered in the annals of history as a heartless monster? In case you didn't know, that is the general perception of you, based on this inhumane, illogical and blatantly heartless stance you have chosen. Again I implore you. Read the studies. Talk to mister Godshall. Open your eyes to whats happening and reconsider! It's not too late to do the right thing here!

Sincerely,
Mac Salmon
Former smoker

[Red Handed]

this is ridiculous, they are all up in arms about this because they cannot rape us on the tobacco taxes if we switch to electronic. all about the Fkn money

[Chasm]

Thank you Mr Godshall for all you have done on the behalf of us the persecuted.

As per your suggestion I have sent the following letter:

I am writing to urge you to reconsider your position on e-cigarettes. The attitude of quit or die is incredibly unrealistic. half a million americans die every year because of this attitude. Electronic cigarettes have helped keep me, my fiancee, my mother, my father and dozens of my close personal friends away from tobacco for nearly 10 months. I no longer cough and wheeze. I no longer smell like a pile of burnt leaves. I feel better and so do the rest of my family. Why do you want us to die? Why have you chosen to take such a hard, closed minded and unethical stance? What did we ever do to you? Do you wish to be remembered in the annals of history as a heartless monster? In case you didn't know, that is the general perception of you, based on this inhumane, illogical and blatantly heartless stance you have chosen. Again I implore you. Read the studies. Talk to mister Godshall. Open your eyes to whats happening and reconsider! It's not too late to do the right thing here!

Sincerely,
Mac Salmon
Former smoker

Mac,

Your message is worth quoting in its entirety, and let me be the first to do the honors.

Chasm

[bogiediver]

I don't know if any of this will do any good - but here is the email I sent, feel free to use whatever parts of it you see fit.
*****

sfw@smokefreewi.org

Maureen Busalacchi:

From your website, your mission statement:

“SmokeFree Wisconsin is a single issue organization whose mission is to promote effective tobacco control policies that will protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke; prevent the initiation of smoking, especially among children; and ensure that there is a well-funded, comprehensive and effective statewide tobacco prevention program”

I would like you to explain to me how electronic cigarettes - that requires no effort to control tobacco and no funding to prevent tobacco use because they contain no tobacco; are not ignited and produce no smoke, therefore, no secondhand smoke – are counter to your mission.

There is no argument that electronic cigarettes, just like actual tobacco products, need to be restricted from children. You are fooling yourself if you believe, regardless of controls or laws in place, that children cannot acquire cigarettes if they so choose. The only true barrier is the integrity of the seller, the same as it is with electronic cigarettes. However, electronic cigarettes have their own deterrent – the initial cost.

I do not understand your organization's negative stance on electronic cigarettes when their widespread use (by those unwilling or unable to quit smoking, but willing to switch their habit) would, in fact, accomplish your goals.

The report by the FDA, often cited by those who don’t understand electronic cigarettes, needs to be fully disclosed if it is to be disclosed at all. While the very limited testing showed the possibility of harmful items in electronic cigarettes, the overall level was at such a minute level in comparison to cigarettes as to be negligible – 8 units in the electronic cigarette versus over 11,000 units in a typical tobacco cigarette – 7/100s of 1 percent, or 99.93% less. I would not argue that more comprehensive, independent, objective testing needs to be done. But it is not appropriate to condemn anything based on a very limited, non-objective test.

The anecdotal evidence from thousands of users of electronic cigarettes is that the electronic cigarettes have helped them quit tobacco; in many cases also quit nicotine; and, almost universally, feel better physically. Check into any of the many user forums and see this for yourself. I am one of those – a smoker for over 45 years – no longer using tobacco; no longer using nicotine and feeling a lot healthier than I have in many years.

Other organizations that oppose tobacco use, such as ‘Smokefree Pennsylvania’, understand the potential of electronic cigarettes in helping to accomplish the goal of becoming smoke free.
*****

-bogie

[kristin]

It's amazing that an organization called "Smoke Free" isn't behind a smoke-free device.

It's proof that they are not really thinking about people's health - just their own agenda!

Great posts, all!