I should have gone to bed, but that "wish list" just got me raving.
I put this together and sent it to the reporter of the article mentioned above:
Kelly,
I read with interest your article on the proposed smoking ban in Casper City.
I am very happy that more and more smoking bans are going into effect across the country because no one needs to be enhaling very harmful second hand smoke. The statistics and research that the city council outlines about the harm of cigarette smoking and health effects etc. was very impressive.
I smoked for 30 years, 2 packs a day and so I know what kind of damage smoking can do and second hand smoke as well. That said, I was finally able to stop smoking by switching to smokefreE-Cigarettes or E-cigs. I had tried every other way to quit over a dozen serious tries and never was able to quit (patches, lozengers, gum, chantix, even hypnosis)- but e-cigs worked. I have now been smoke free for 15 months and my health is greatly improved. I'm sure you'll be hearing more about these and from other users of e-cigs. I have also been able to pursuade several of my friends to quit smoking after years and years of failed attempts with the aid of e-cigs. I have literally seen these save the lives of my friends and mine as well.
I loved what I was seeing in Casper City's "wish list" until I got to page 24. I couldn't believe that they listed e-cigs as something they want to also ban. I researched long and hard before I took the plunge- yes, I had also read of the FDA's findings in the few poorly made e-cig cartridges they tested from China back in 2009. I also found that there were 8 independent studies on the same "evidence" that the FDA had found and that the conclusions of the studies were that the amount of toxins found in the badly made cartridges were the same levels or less than the very nicotine patches that the FDA had already approved for smoking cessation. Since then there have been many other studies showing how much better SmokefreE-Cigarettes are over Combustible Cigarettes- and the e-cig products themselves are better today than they were back then. Also, although the FDA did stop their importation for a short time, that restriction is no longer in effect. The two companies that were under fire by the FDA, fought back and in 2011 won against the FDA in a higher federal court. The preciding judge, Judge Leon declared that the FDA did not have jurisdiction over e-cigarettes and that as long as e-cig companies didn't make pharmaceutical claims, they could be imported? I'm not sure why, but this little fact is left out of the City Council's info. Anyway, long story short- much of the information about SmokefreE-Cigarettes that is on page 24 is either completely incorrect or is outdated. For one, e-cigarette makers are not allowed to make health claims or they can't sell them and the idea that employers wont be able to tell the difference between smoke and vapor is ludicrous. You can smell a cigarette burning from a mile away. With SmokeFreE-Cigarettes, by definition, there is no smoke so you don't smell anyting burning- thus there is no second hand smoke either. I have used my e-cig in many places and no one has ever complained of it smelling like anyting, much less a burning cigarette. The vapor might look like smoke for an instant but disappates quickly- after all, it's only water vapor. If you hold the vapor in for a few seconds, there isn't even vapor to expelled. So, I'm still shocked that the City Council wants to ban smokefreE-cigarettes too. All I can think of is that they are either completely ignorant about smokefreE-cigarettes or someone is giving them bad information to decieve the public.
Also, the last part that mentions Dr. Eisenburg's research is also outdated- and is taken out of context. His most recently published study concludes that e-cigs ARE effective and that they are much safer compared to combusting and smoking tobacco that they could be a true help to someone wanting to quit smoking.
I just wanted to put in my 2cents here about what I saw as very innacurate information. I read a study recently- that somewhere upwards of 80% of those who switched to smokefreE-cigarettes have been able to stay off of combustible tobacco. I really feel that in these combustable tobacco bans, if smokefreE-cigs are also included, that the public will get the wrong message about what could be potentially an instrument to save lives, being banned as well. Cigarette smokers who might have switched to a safer alternative won't as they'll also see incorrectly that e-cigs are in the same boat as combustible tobacco.
The more I read, the more I learn where the FDA and the other organizations that want these bans (AHA, ALA, etc.) are coming from- they get funding from big pharmaceutical companies and the way things have been going with smokeFreE-cigs becoming more and more popular and being more effective than the patches, gum, etc, it is taking away their funding. Following the money is a real eye opener. Thanks for letting me rant. I feel I have just scratched the surface about my concerns and I really wanted to tell you more of how my life and how the lives of my friends have improved- like my friend Pete who has COPD and no longer needs medication after he switched to smokefreE-cigarettes but I'll wait on those stories if/when I hear back from you.
One last thing- Let me suggest that you do some research and share the "other side of the story" concerning bans on smokefreE-cigs. It would make a great article and would be educational to the public as well. A good place to look is here:
www.e-cigarette-forum.com and The Consumer Advocates for Smoke Free Alternatives
CASAA | The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association There is so much research out there now that shows that these really do work (although the companies that make or sell them can't advertise them as such), and they are much safer than combustible cigarettes. I feel that they have saved my life and the lives of many many others and pose no health risks what-so-ever to anyone who may be around someone who is using one.
Best regards,
David Emxxxx
