Ok, here is my two cents worth:
Testing the liquid with an independent lab would get us that much closer to FDA approval when they do finally decide to step in and assert regulatory authority in the matter (yes, the government agencies are greedy and power hungry - that is how they maintain job security). If the suppliers already had a list of chemicals in the base liquid, or a full list of ingredients, as I am sure JC has, when the FDA comes knocking on their doors so to speak, then there is less chance of an all out ban of the stuff - or at the very least, a minimized interruption to business as usual.
I freely admit that I was once young and STUPID. I inhaled God knows what from God knows who and paid no attention to the possible repercussions. I got addicted to the crap. Now, I like to think that I am older and wiser than that. I actually would like to know what chemicals I am inhaling, what the possible side effects are, what the possible long term health implications might be, etc. I want to know where the nicotine comes from and what kind of chemicals are used to extract it and how much of those chemicals are still left in the stuff I am inhaling. I want to make educated decisions about what I put into my body. I went this route because it was, at least, a healthier-looking option to the cigarette carcinogens. I tried NRT methods, Chantix, controlled smoking, and cold turkey - all to know avail. Now I am trying this and having better results than anything else I have tried. I want to know what kind of damage this might do to me because I hope to do this long term.
I do not want your top secret recipes. I do not want you, suppliers, to foot the bill. I DO want you to form a collective group and submit some samples. I do want you to offset the cost of the testing with donations from all of us consumers, with slightly elevated prices if that is still necessary. I do want you to communicate with us and tell us what you want from us to make this happen.
Yes, you are being held to a higher standard than Big Tobacco. That is because we have been mistreated in the past and are not willing to continue being deprived of information. I do not want a patronizing, pat answer based on deductive logic like, "no burning substance means no carbon monoxide and no carcinogens". I want a list of chemicals at the very least.
This subject has been brought up numerous times. I think it is high time someone stepped up to the plate and gave us the hard truth about what we are inhaling - the good, the bad, and the ugly. That someone would certainly have my respect and probably my business.
