Maryland about to ban sale of electronic cigarettes

[JerryRM]

hate to say it but I don't agree with e-cigs to be regulated as tobacco products but it may be our only choice at the moment.

It may be our best hope at this time. The FDA wants to regulate the e-cig as a drug/device. If that happens, they will ban it until, or if, it is proven safe. That could take years and millions of dollars to prove and judging by their attitude so far, they will never allow it to go on the market, with their approval. If it is classified as a tobacco product, the FDA will regulate it, but they can not ban it.

We all would like to see the e-cig put in it's own category, and free from the FDA, but it looks like the only choices at this time, are drug/device or tobacco product and tobacco product is the lesser of the two evils.

[telsie]

Here's what's happening with the Maryland HB 720 as of today:

At present, the bill is in the Health and Government Operations Committee of the House, where a hearing took place on March 9. The Committee has not yet issued a report as of today. The bill has not been cross-filed, meaning that it will only come before the Senate if it receives a favorable committee report, and a vote of the majority of the members of the House. Bills emerging with a positive vote in the House are then reassigned to a Senate committee for review. This bill would likely be assigned to Education Health and Environmental Affairs.

(That info was sent to me by my state senator).

Telsie: As you live in MD, if you have not already done so, I would recommend that you get on the phone and contact your state Senator and representative (or whatever they call them in MD). I was told by a NY state assembly member that these folks often ignore email. But phone calls from their constituants do carry impact. Let them know that you will be watching how well they listen to and carry out the will of the voters.

Good idea. I'll do that on Monday. I'd originally thought of calling for that very reason, but I wasn't sure if I'd know what to say beyond "don't vote for that bill!" After spending some time crafting a letter, I feel confident I'd be able to speak intelligently on the subject on the slim chance I actually have the opportunity to say anything other than "don't vote for that bill!"

[Tom09]

Michael Siegel blogs (March 21, 2010):

Maryland Bill Would Severely Harm the Public's Health by Forcing Many Ex-Smokers to Return to Cigarette Smoking

[...]With all of the facts in hand, I don't see how any legislator who is truly interested in protecting the public's health and saving lives could possibly support legislation to take e-cigs off the market, forcing ex-smokers to return to the much more toxic analog cigarettes. Let's hope that the Maryland legislators take the time to research and inform themselves about this issue before they vote on this bill.[...]

The Rest of the Story

[scheherezade]

It may be our best hope at this time. The FDA wants to regulate the e-cig as a drug/device. If that happens, they will ban it until, or if, it is proven safe. That could take years and millions of dollars to prove and judging by their attitude so far, they will never allow it to go on the market, with their approval. If it is classified as a tobacco product, the FDA will regulate it, but they can not ban it.

We all would like to see the e-cig put in it's own category, and free from the FDA, but it looks like the only choices at this time, are drug/device or tobacco product and tobacco product is the lesser of the two evils.

But there is no reason to think that the FDA won't ban e-cigs themselves. There is way too much income generated by analogs in the form of taxes and pharmaceutical products. Much cheaper and faster to just ban them and maintain not only the status quo but also the income stream.

[JerryRM]

But there is no reason to think that the FDA won't ban e-cigs themselves. There is way too much income generated by analogs in the form of taxes and pharmaceutical products. Much cheaper and faster to just ban them and maintain not only the status quo but also the income stream.

Scheherezade, I have no doubt that's what the FDA would like to do and will do if the e-cig is classified a drug/device. However, they are prohibited by Congress from banning a tobacco product, they can only regulate it. The FDA has authority over filled cartridges and e-juice, but I don't think they have authority over the hardware.

[basic_atheist]

I still think BT and BP is behind it all.

[skex]

You're talking about the JIM CROW LAWS right...Hmmm, wasn't that perpetrated by the Democrats coming back in to power after the Civil War, you know the same ones that fought for segregation...YES it was Un-American and targeted at a specific group. Also, I don't know how you can assume I wouldn't know the answers to something not even knowing me. And yes I would have known the answers because I am white and they would have given me the answers...that was the intended purpose.

That would have been the Dixiecrats. The southern racist democrats who left the party after the Civil Rights Act was signed. To become guess what?

Republican's

Of course the parties have switched ideological positions several times through out our nations history so it's really rather irrelevant to the fact that any sort of "test" beyond citizenship and age could and most likely would be abused to limit the franchise from minorities.

Look, I am not going to turn this in to an argument because its not something I get a kick out of. If I wanted to do that you would see my name in the Outside forum a lot, trust me.

All I am saying is that you have to prove competence to drive a car, to fly a plane, to get a job and so on...but you can walk in to a polling booth and play Pin the Tail to elect people that will affect millions of lives, without knowing how to count the fingers on your hand.

There is a long and infamous history of the harms caused to society by poll tests.

It's a slippery slope that leads to tyrrany. Remembrer half the population is by definition of below average intelegence. So if one were to draw the line at average that would knock off half the population right there.

What about all the rhetoric about taxation without representation. Because if you take away the franchise you have removed a persons representation.

But anyway...Back on the topic, does anybody have an answer to my previous question, cause I be dumb...if the law is passed will I be able to buy and have shipped to Maryland items from a state not banned from sales?

I believe that Sun answered your question in that federal law would take precidence in this case. For which you should be grateful that the States Rights crowd have thus far lost that argument.

[Bill Godshall]

Good news.
The Maryland bill 720 died today in the Health and Government Operations Committee.

basic_athiest wrote:

I still think BT and BP is behind it all.

While the drug companies have heavily funded many anti-tobacco groups that have been advocating e-cigarette sales and usage bans (e.g. CTFK, ACS, AHA, ALA, ASH, Legacy), I'm not aware that any tobacco companies are lobbying to ban (or are funding others to lobby to ban) e-cigarette sales or usage.

In fact, tobacco companies want SE to win the SE v FDA lawsuit, and want the FDA to reclassify and regulate e-cigarettes as tobacco products. That way, the tobacco companies can also begin to market e-cigarettes, which will sharply increase sales and usage of e-cigarettes.

Yet another reason to support the AAPHP petitions to the FDA.

[Bill Godshall]

sheherezade wrote
But there is no reason to think that the FDA won't ban e-cigs themselves. There is way too much income generated by analogs in the form of taxes and pharmaceutical products.

The FDA has been trying to ban e-cigarettes (by classifying them a drug devices, by blocking/seizing shipments, and by lying about their health risks) for more than a year.

The FDA has no authority to tax anything, and doesn't care about taxes. Folks who continue posting these totally inaccurate statements are only making it more difficult for those of us who are actively working to keep e-cigarettes legal and affordable (because we have to waste our time correcting inaccurate statements on this forum).

[Sun Vaporer]

In fact, tobacco companies want SE to win the SE v FDA lawsuit, and want the FDA to reclassify and regulate e-cigarettes as tobacco products. That way, the tobacco companies can also begin to market e-cigarettes, which will sharply increase sales and usage of e-cigarettes.

Remember this Quote here good people as that is the truth and goes to the core of the future of e-cigs in the marketplace.


Sun