I'm sorry, but I have to agree with
@WharfRat1976. This is OVER.
It's obvious that the FDA has determined to kill vaping in the USA. They have been very thorough in effectively eliminating any and all avenues where vaping is concerned.
For months, I've heard people cry "I'll just DIY!" Well, the FDA was listening. Not only have they covered nicotine, but they targeted flavors and the vials they come in. No, I don't think "but this is for food use" will work. They have also covered all supplies that can even be remotely associated with vaping, down to batteries, cotton, and wire. "But this is for my flashlight" isn't going to cut it either. Do you think the manufacturers of cheap flashlights will pave the way? No, they will integrate batteries into their devices that allows them to be plugged in to charge because they don't want to get involved in the .... storm that is going to surround the vaping community.
And yes, I'm sorry, negativity DOES have a place here. For years we have all dutifully signed all the petitions, called and emailed our representatives and done whatever has been asked of us to thwart this regulation from coming to pass. Did any of this have even the
slightest effect on the FDA regulations? No.
Not one thing was changed in the FDA policies. Not one. In fact, it could be argued that it got even
worse than originally imagined. Is it realistic to believe that even 100,000 signatures will make a damn bit of difference against the slick lobbying machine that Big Tobacco has running right now? That machine has been vastly effective in attaching a stigma to vapers, perpetuated by our own fools within this community who insist on blowing massive clouds, labeling their juices in the most cartoonish ways imaginable, and stupidly building crappy mods that catch fire. Every story like that is pumped up by the media so now the majority of the world believes that vaping is not safe at all.
Believe me, that's the next step - strengthen that stigma until we as vapors are as ostracized as the cigarette smoking public. Remember, to the average person we ARE smoking. We are sucking on a device and smoke is coming out of our lungs. It doesn't matter how much we cry "it's only vapor!" or "it's not harmful!" - we are smoking in their eyes.
Make no mistake - we are dead meat in the very near future. Sheer optimism and high hopes will do nothing to save us. We don't have the bankroll, and we don't have a snowball's chance in Hell with congress. Can you find more than 5 or 6 congressmen who support vaping and focus on the health benefits? Do you honestly believe a good percentage of hopeful candidates will stand up and voice their support for us when the majority of the voting public has been swayed by the anti-hype or is plain apathetic?
I apologize for this War & Peace length post, I just needed to rant. I'm sickened as well, and I will stock up on my own DIY supplies and devices and hunker down in my bunker. But that's all any of us will be able to do.