3/23/09 | Senator seeks to halt sales of 'e-cigarettes'

[PakAdayX50]

Vape makes an excellent point about the juice vs. the device. Meanwhile, I sent the following to Sen Lautenberg:

>>>I am a good democrat and a 50+ year smoker. I started using electronic cigarettes last week. To the congratulations of my cardiologist and internest, I stopped inhaling burning tobacco at the same time. I recognize that the e-cig's nicotine content is merely replacing that to which I became addicted 50 some years ago; but that is also true of the patches, gum and inhalers previously prescribed. Those remedies did not help me quit. This one may or may not, but is certainly doing no more harm than the other sources of unburned nicotine.
Please encourage the FDA to study the matter, but meanwhile do not intimidate them into banning something that has not been shown to be harmful.<<<

 

[Chris From Cali]

Props at Kamanjah for a great letter. It inspired me to contact the senator.

With that said I just sent my first ever latter to a senator. I hope that power by numbers can give us the edge we need to keep the electronic cigarette on the market.

Although we're a small group, I view all of us as a small militia fighting for the greater cause, I have no doubt that with the brains and heart this forum and community as a whole has we can make a difference. (Sorry if that sounded cheesy)

 

[Numb]

Petition signed, keep it up.

 

[leaford]

It's good to read that we've got some support in congress. And I think all the letters are great. I've heard many times, though, that hand written letters are best. So I'd suggest everyone who emailed should snail mail it too.

 

[Nicole]

Very good letter, Kamanjah! Well written, respectful, and informative...great job!

 

[pam]

I can't post links yet but I found this statement related to Lautenberg's FDA action:


Statement of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids



WASHINGTON, March 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids applaud Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey's call for the Food and Drug Administration to exert its authority and immediately remove e-cigarettes from the market.
FDA officials have been quoted numerous times in many publications during the past few weeks saying that e-cigarettes are "new drugs," which require prior approval from the FDA before they are allowed to be sold. Without this approval, e-cigarettes are illegal to market or sell. Despite these statements, no action has been taken to remove e-cigarettes from the market.
Currently, e-cigarettes are being sold in 62 kiosks at malls across the United States, with plans to expand to another 55. E-cigarettes are also being marketed towards young people, who can purchase them in fruit flavors and online, without having to verify their ages.
Makers and retailers of these products have been making unproven health claims about their products, claiming that they are safer than normal cigarettes and asserting that they can help people to quit smoking. Absent scientific evidence, these claims are in blatant violation of FDA rules.
In fact, no studies have been done on e-cigarettes to date regarding their health effects or their effectiveness as cessation aids. Like the "light" and "low tar" cigarettes that tobacco companies claimed were healthier for consumers, there is no evidence to back up the claims made by e-cigarette makers. In September of 2008, the World Health Organization stated that they have "no evidence to confirm the product's safety or efficacy."
Our organizations thank Senator Lautenberg for his leadership in urging the FDA to remove these products from the market and echo his call that the FDA move quickly to remove these products from the marketplace.
While the FDA currently does not have jurisdiction over tobacco products, it does have jurisdiction over other products that contain nicotine including e-cigarettes, which have been marketed as delivering nicotine without tobacco.

 

[TropicalBob]

Quite a lineup of enemies. Good find.

 

[Nicole]

I went ahead and sent my email to the White House, too. I feel my letter was thoughtful and respectful enough to warrant being sent there without any negative consequences...

 

[TropicalBob]

Please, no one post that these health organizations don't know what they're doing, don't have the facts, etc. That will only make matters worse and hasten what I hope is a lengthy FDA consideration of the issue.

You can't rebut science with belief.

Manufacturers let us down. What an understatement.

 

[The Wiz]

Quite a lineup of enemies. Good find.

Quite "Powerful" enemies if you ask me TB......The screw keeps turning! The Wiz!

 

[halopunker]

I can't post links yet but I found this statement related to Lautenberg's FDA action

I posted the link (Link to post) on the initial post.

Good Find.

 

[TropicalBob]

On further reads, a person can't help but note the call, not only to ban, but to "remove" e-cigs from the market. Ban thus could equal confiscation. Suppliers beware. Users stock up if you haven't already.

The E-Clock reads one minute 'til midnight. And someone called the cops.

 

[TropicalBob]

They want you to QUIT!

Comparisons with cigarettes will be frutal. Don't make such comparisons in official correspondence. The e-cig must stand on its own merits, not compared to anything. If it can't, it's dead.

 

[MonkeyMonk]

The E-Clock reads one minute 'til midnight. And someone called the cops.

Hey, TB, did you buy another red ink cartridge? But, I think it will only be temporary and they will return packaged differently and taxed ... single use and tamper resistant.

I still think the suppliers would be ok if they had 2 separate corporation names and 2 separate sites:
One for there vaporizers / nic free juice and offer homeopathic juices and One totally separate site for their nic. juice.

 

[dEFinitionofEPIC]

The way people in democracies think of the government as something different from themselves is a real handicap. And, of course, sometimes the government confirms their opinion.

~LM

You're absolutely right. Our forefathers never intended for government to get this big and powerful. But half-conscious citizens have let it evolve into the machine it is today. Now we just accept it the way it is rather than remember that the government works for US.

 

[NicoNut]

Most of the letters are really good and thanks so much to all who have written and given us all ideas and suggestions on writing them! Can others PLEASE mention THE NO SECOND HAND SMOKE, smell, etc. and I totally agree on clearing out more of the negative posts!

 

[TheBandit]

Comparisons with cigarettes will be frutal. Don't make such comparisons in official correspondence. The e-cig must stand on its own merits, not compared to anything. If it can't, it's dead.

I'm pretty sure that the comparison is already there whether we make it or not. I mean, it is called an electronic....cigarette. Besides, what are we supposed to say? It helped me quit...fishing. I feel better than when I used to...collect coins.

I'm not sure I'm following you on your angle with this comment. It was designed as a replacement for smoking tobacco cigarettes, as well as marketed that way, and I would wager that's why 99.9% of the people here are using them.

 

[Rob]

Instead of signing the petition, take a few minutes to WRITE (with pen and paper) as well as call, your senators, representaives, and Sen. Lautenberg. E-petitions carry NO wieght with any government agency, and a plugged up mail/phone system is much more effective. E-petitions can be forged far to easily, and have NO guarantee of even being forwarded to the intended recipient. Please take some time to reach out with a personal message to those in charge.
For more information on e-petitions read snopes.com: Internet Petitions

 

[Nicole]

I sent a letter to Senator Lautenberg that I think is very respectful, and explains the reason why I would like him to reconsider his stance on electronic cigarettes. Here is what I submitted to him...



Senator Lautenberg:

My name is Nicole Ponville. I am a student and housewife from Livingston, Louisiana. I have been using a nicotine replacement product known as a personal vaporizer, or electronic cigarette. This product has allowed me to quit smoking dangerous cigarettes. Many people around the world, including myself, have used the personal vaporizers without negative side effects for a good amount of time now.

I realize that nicotine products can be considered dangerous, but they are just as dangerous in currently available nicotine gums, patches and inhalers as they could be in the nicotine juice used in personal vaporizers. It is my belief that to take negative action against our personal vaporizers without any research to the negative would have bad results, and would result in many people resuming smoking cigarettes again. There are a few studies independently done in Europe, but as you know, there have been no U.S. studies, yet. I am not claiming that there shouldn't be studies done. It is my own belief that studies would turn out in favor of personal vaporizers, especially when compared to the health risks associated with real cigarettes. I also would certainly be in favor of measures to make the nicotine liquids safer, such as child-proof bottles, age restrictions and warnings, and there are companies who are already using some of these safety measures when selling their products.

In the past four years of world-wide use with the personal vaporizers, there has not been one confirmed death due to the use of these products. They contain fewer chemicals, no tar, no burning paper and no carcinogens, unlike their tobacco counter parts. In fact, one of the largest ingredients in the nicotine juice, propylene glycol, is an FDA tested and approved safe food additive.

Many people, including myself, subdue our nicotine addictions without the damaging and cancer-causing effects which exist in tobacco products by using electronic cigarettes. I have never been able to quit my smoking habit until I found this product. I am twenty nine years old, have been a serious smoker for 11 years, and I feel that electronic cigarettes have saved my life. Never in many years of trying to quit have I been able to quit smoking cigarettes, until I started using the electronic cigarette. Gum, patches, and medicines didn’t work for me. The electronic cigarette DID. I don’t want to start smoking real cigarettes again, but if the personal vaporizers are banned, I fear I will have no choice.

Thank you for your time.
Nicole Ponville

 

[LaceyUnderall]

Nicole - lovely letter, just lovely.

Let's see more!!!!