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

[Nicole]

Thank you, Lacey. I'm serious about doing whatever I can to protect something I'm passionate about. I've already written to my (Louisiana) U.S. senators and representatives, I sent a similar letter to President Obama's office, and now this one to Senator Lautenberg. No one can call me a slacker...

 

[Oceaneco]

Dear Senator Frank R. Lautenberg,

I have been made aware of the fact that you are going to talk to the FDA about banning electronic smoking devices until further testing. These devices have helped numerous people in their attempt to quit the nasty habit of smoking tobacco. If this smoking alternative device is taken away, these people, including myself, will be left with no other alternative but to go back to smoking tobacco products, which have killed many. I hope that you will recant your decision due to the many that this smoking alternative device has helped. There has been testing on these units, with positive results for health purposes as compared to the risks of smoking tobacco. I am asking you to please hold off on any rash decisions until further testing can be done to otherwise prove it more harmful than the alternative of tobacco products.
Using the electronic cigarette has helped me personally. My lungs feel more clear and my breathing is much deeper than when using tobacco products.
I no longer smell like a cigarette and my mouth no longer taste like an ashtray. I am in no way suggesting that this product should not be tested further, but please do not turn this into an underground product; history has proven the dangers of that with other products.
Thank you for any considerations.

 

[Nicole]

Very succinct and to the point, Ocean! Great letter!

 

[cleo]

i think that one big issue to adress is how the devices are marketed.in order to maximise profits,many websites starts making unproved claims about the safety of their products and insisting on the benefits without mentioning the potential harm.

i understand this from a pure business perspective under the highly competitive conditions , however these practices are one of the main factors that may jeopardise the whole e-smoke revolution.

i am new to this forum but i came to understand that a lot of suppliers are folowing it as this being the main hub of the e-smoking community,and i want to recomand some steps to folow that for sure will not make them more profits than now ,but will help the cause that we are all thriving to support:

1-make the website acces only available to adults(i know this is difficult ,but most adult rated website use a disclamer ,to be ,at least safe from the legal point of view
2-use all the means possible to unsure that the sale of your products is not to under aged through verfication of bank card information by your intermediary(im sure something like that may be sorted by paypal and such....)
3-explain clearly the uncertainty related to the presumed safety of these devices,and that clinical trials are still to be made,and let your customers make an informed choice between regular cigarettes and e-cigs
4-state clearly and as often as possible that nicotine is a poison,and that they are numerous risk associated with the regular consomption of such substance
5-avoid the use of marketing materiel that may attract a younger audience(for ex the TW logo),this will be definetly used against the device use and regulation
6-try to keep the website design sobre (boring if possible),and keep in mind during their conception that they are supposed to be adressed to mature audience.
7-avoid flashier designed products ,these may be seen by regulators as an attempt to attract a younger audience.
8-avoid any mention of e-smoking as an NTR
these are some recommendations that came to my mind now,and im sure there is more to be suggested and done.suppliers ,please REMEBER that you are the visual ambassadors to the regulators,and they are looking at your websites and marketing strategies(cigarette lobbies have invisible hands working for them,and they will look for the slightest mistake of your part).
most of the recommandations have big chances to be included in the regulation if this device is approved.set these standards before the regulators obliges you to folow them.maybe you will not make a lot of profit right now ,but the more responsible you are the more you will be respected and notorious in the industry you will be in the futur.

i am inviting all the members to share their ideas and recommendations.and hope the suppliers present on this forum will present their point of view as well.im not sure this message belongs to this thread ,but it is one of the main issues to be discussed when talking about the regulators point of view and the arguments they will present to ban the electronic cigarette.a lot of responsability lies on the shoulders of the current supplier to make this infant industry survive.

 

[cleo]

a quote from E-cigarette sparks attention as FDA crackdown looms - The Connecticut Post Online

it reports that:"I understand why people use the nicotine replacement aids," said Serena Chen, regional tobacco policy director of the American Lung Association in California. "But I don't understand why people want to pretend that they're smoking."

my asnwer to her is that if you dont understand that ,maybe you shouldnt be in the position you are occupiying now.

 

[jimson]

My letter to the honorable Sen Lautenberg.

Dear Senator Lautenburg.

I am writing to ask you to reconsider your efforts to halt the sale of electronic cigarettes.

Those who have never experienced cigarette addiction and say that smokers should just quit, cannot begin to grasp the difficulty of overcoming it. For some, it is almost impossible.

In addition to the health concerns, smokers are treated like garbage, made to smoke outside in bad weather,and taxed to the point that smoking becomes a huge financial burden.

The fact that anyone continues to smoke illustrates the huge difficulty some find in quitting.

The e-cigarette is the only device that offers nicotine replacement along with satisfying some of the mechanical habit of smoking.

It can help folks avoid some of the dangers of smoking and by gradually reducing the level of nicotine, may help some quit entirely.

While I understand the safety concerns,
common sense tells me that there is little doubt that electronic cigarettes are less harmful than tobacco cigarettes.

If you are successful in halting the sale of this product you will force e-smokers back to traditional cigarettes, and we already know how unsafe that is.

If you truly care about the health of smokers and see them as more than an unsympathetic, taxable cash cow, you would not work to halt the sale of this alternative.

Sincerely,
James J Taylor

 

[outofstep]

RIGHT?! She's the "Regional Tobacco Policy Director" and she doesn't have the slightest clue? You've got to be kidding me. Put someone in there with maybe just a tiny bit of expertise, or *gasp* maybe even some tobacco experience.

These illogical lines of reasoning commonly found in Congress is exactly why simply signing petitions and sending letters will not be enough.

If Laudenberg has agenda he will appeal to the fears and emotions of other Representatives and citizens. Responding by appealing to reason is pretty much the worst play to make. Its happened many times before in Congress and it will likely happen again.

Its all about winning people over Bob because they are the ones that have made the first move and our only response with any chance of success is to do the same.

We have no voice in the media, just occasional positive news stories at best. Meanwhile, any association that has a beef with e-cigs can gain easy media access.

A non-profit e-vaper rights group is needed, and no not just another forum.

 

[Rob]

Just a quick follow up...
Called both of my senators today, as well as my district representative and got the same initial response from all 3 offices "What is an electronic cigarette?" after taking the time to explain to them, they were much more interested and had information to pass on to their senators/represntatives. So I strongly urge you all, don't just email, take a few minutes to call, and get someone curious. This all flows uphill, but a phone call is much more personal.


Now if only I can find someone to hook me up with the # of Mr. Obama's PDA......

 

[Exylis]

a quote from E-cigarette sparks attention as FDA crackdown looms - The Connecticut Post Online

it reports that:"I understand why people use the nicotine replacement aids," said Serena Chen, regional tobacco policy director of the American Lung Association in California. "But I don't understand why people want to pretend that they're smoking."

my asnwer to her is that if you dont understand that ,maybe you shouldnt be in the position you are occupiying now.

I'd like to counter Serena Chen's quote by asking her what the point of non-alcoholic beer is.

 

[strayling]

I'd like to counter Serena Chen's quote by asking her what the point of non-alcoholic beer is.

To make Bud Lite seem good by comparison.

Seriously, that's an excellent response you've come up with.

 

[jamie]

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.

If nicotine products stood on their own merits there wouldn't be any... it's quite addictive for many.

 

[dohsma]

If nicotine products stood on their own merits there wouldn't be any... it's quite addictive for many.

Yeah but neither would caffeine.

 

[Exylis]

Just a quick follow up...
Called both of my senators today, as well as my district representative and got the same initial response from all 3 offices "What is an electronic cigarette?" after taking the time to explain to them, they were much more interested and had information to pass on to their senators/represntatives. So I strongly urge you all, don't just email, take a few minutes to call, and get someone curious. This all flows uphill, but a phone call is much more personal.


Now if only I can find someone to hook me up with the # of Mr. Obama's PDA......

Thanks for informing them! That should help a little!

 

[Vapor Pete]

I wrote him a letter, and signed the petition.... see what happens.

 

[slowhand592]

Dear Senator,
I urge you to stop trying to ban e-cigarettes\personal vaporizers. These devices already exist in this country and have for some time under different names and altered forms. Vapor inhalation is not something new it is actually prescribed by doctors for many reasons. Inhaling nicotine through vaporization is no different than the many forms of NRT already on the market today. These people making these claims are merely uninformed of the law. I does not mean that the sale of these items by people not making these claims needs to be banned. If a company is not claiming this is a safe cigarette or a smoking cessation device should be applauded for their honesty.I again ask that you refrain from this effort to ban personal vaporizers.

Thank you for your time,

 

[luvesmokin]

Gee, let me see, the FDA, has not approved ecigs, they might be dangerous or something, but regular cigarettes are not? It is all about the government wanting to tax us smokers , to the max! they do not want ecigs, for tax reasons !! HELLO ,It is all about money it is not about the heath of Americans. I am a pack and a half day smoker down today to 5 cigarettes. I am loving the fact that I can try and save my life with an alternative smoking method. This has been the only thing working for me . I was so excited to hear about ecigs , and I am trying so hard to get off of regulAR CIGARETTES. Don'tburst my bubble please... want to be smoke free real soon, will not let this government stand in my way....

 

[halopunker]

Updated...

-----------------
Stearns shot back at Lautenberg on Monday, saying that there is no evidence that the device is harmful.

“Before the FDA takes any immediate action, it should put forward scientific evidence that these products are harmful or unsafe,” he said in a statement.

“These e-cigarettes are smokeless and do not produce carcinogens. The nicotine in e-cigarettes is controlled in a capsule that can help in smoking cessation by allowing the user to reduce gradually the nicotine level, hopefully to zero.”

Stearns has sent electronic cigarettes to House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and President Obama to help them quit smoking. He’s been seen using the device in the Speaker’s Lobby, where Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) banned smoking two years ago. Her office did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

A longtime opponent of smoking, Lautenberg authored the law that banned smoking on airplanes and a law that banned smoking in federal facilities that serve children.
News Link

 

[Calaban]

Great job and kudos to everyone who has written their congress-people.

I have not yet, but plan to.

Might I make one suggestion?

I have seen a few people write in their letters something like, "banning e-cigarettes will leave people with no other option than to go back to traditional tobacco cigarettes".

Now, we all know this is true....to a point. I can say that for me, if e-cigs were banned, I would be back on the analogs in a heartbeat.

BUT, non-smokers, anti-smokers, and ex-smokers will see this statement as a sign of weakness and will likely think that A) we are being dramatic B) SUCK IT UP AND QUIT.

Of course, I don't agree with them. Many people have quit smoking, but not everybody is able to. I for one have tried to quit so many times I can't count them. Nic gum didn't work. The Patch is a joke. Nothing has worked for me until I found the e-cig. The real crux of the biscuit is that I DON'T WANT TO QUIT.

But the people we are trying to convince will not understand that. They will say "you have another choice besides going back to tobacco cigarettes. You can quit."

Anyway, instead of saying that the ban would "leave us with no other choice", it might be better to word it differently like "e-cigarettes have proven to be the only thing that has kept me off traditional tobacco cigs" or something to that effect.

Anyone agree? Or am I nit-picking?
I can handle the truth so let me have it!!!

-Calaban

 

[dEFinitionofEPIC]

These illogical lines of reasoning commonly found in Congress is exactly why simply signing petitions and sending letters will not be enough.

If Laudenberg has agenda he will appeal to the fears and emotions of other Representatives and citizens. Responding by appealing to reason is pretty much the worst play to make. Its happened many times before in Congress and it will likely happen again.

Its all about winning people over Bob because they are the ones that have made the first move and our only response with any chance of success is to do the same.

We have no voice in the media, just occasional positive news stories at best. Meanwhile, any association that has a beef with e-cigs can gain easy media access.

A non-profit e-vaper rights group is needed, and no not just another forum.

I agree that petitions will never do anything... sadly. But I also don't know how much a non-profit will do either. You're right...winning over people is the problem. Think about NORML. They are huge compared to any group vapers could get together and any successes that they have made have been minimal even after years and years of attempted lobbying, hard work, and dedication. The reason is that there are not enough people that really actively care about marijuana laws for the government to feel pressured into doing something. At the end of the day, smokers are a minority in this country and are losing their voice more every day as the anti-smoking agenda gets indoctrinated in people. Vapers--- we'll we're basically non-existent. A non-factor if you will. That's why I think we're screwed. Which is why I stay stuck on my main point of contention.... Why O Why do we even have to deal with the government imposing its will on us. What kind of freedom is that?

 

[Terraphon]

Here's my letter...

I understand that you, Sen. Lautenberg, are pressing the FDA to stop the use of electronic personal vaporizers (commonly called "electronic cigarettes") pending an FDA review of the safety of the devices.

I will try to keep this very brief but I would like to tell you that I think doing so is a huge mistake.

Allow me to tell you a story;

I started smoking when I was around 16 years of age. I am now 37. I have tried to get away from tobacco products many times over the last 20 years and have never been successful. I have looked for and used alternatives and "stop smoking" products but nothing ever worked so I gave up...I resigned myself to being a smoker for the rest of my life and, ultimately, dying from tobacco use.

My Mother died on New Years day, this year. Her death was attributed to heart failure brought on by heart disease which was complicated by smoking. When this happened, I knew I had to do something...I didn't want the same thing to happen to me and I didn't want to put my family through this kind of thing again.

I have been using one of these devices, now, for 59 days. In that time I have not smoked a SINGLE tobacco cigarette. Since making the change to the personal vaporizer (Specifically the EVO by Intellicig) I feel better...I sleep better...I think better. It is easier for me to concentrate. I smell better. I have gotten my senses of taste and smell back. I SEE better. I have more energy. I perform my job functions better. I breathe better.

I am an asthmatic. I have been most of my life. When I was smoking tobacco cigarettes I was going through prescription and over-the-counter asthma inhalers at the rate of 1 per 5-6 week period. Since I started using the EVO, nearly 2 months ago, I have used my asthma inhaler less than 12 times...At that rate it will last me 1-2 years. Due to that I am using less insurance dollars and putting less of a burden on an already over-burdened medical system.

If you take away my ability to use this product you will put me back on that asthma inhaler because you will force me back to tobacco cigarettes.

I don't know if you are aware of this, Senator Lautenberg but the chemical action of nicotine in the human brain actually causes the brain to re-wire itself...It is changed by nicotine and that is what creates the addiction. Only 7-10% of the people that become addicted to this chemical will ever be able to stop using it...I am NOT part of that 7-10%. I know that I will never be completely free of nicotine and that is something that I have to live with. I made the choice to start using it and I ultimately made the choice to change my method of using it to something I believe is safer for my body and better for the environment and those around me.

Please do not make the choice to force me back to tobacco. If you push for the banning of these devices, that's exactly what you'll be doing. You'll be forcing THOUSANDS of American citizens to start using tobacco again and, in the end, I believe you'll be harming them.

I propose, instead, that we get the FDA to do their testing while the devices and the liquid nicotine are still available. If, in the end, it is found that the use of these devices and the liquid nicotine poses more of a health risk to the public as a whole than do cigarettes then, by all means, ban them. If that can't be proven, however, please let us continue to live what we believe are healthier and know to be HAPPIER lives.

Living my LIFE and having the LIBERTY to treat my body in the best way I see fit brings me HAPPINESS.

Isn't it my right to do just that?

Thank you for your time and consideration.