Chicago Defender news article

[CES]

I don't think that anyone has posted this yet.
Hunter wants ban on E Cigarettes

 

[PaulB]

State Sen. Mattie Hunter: “Electronic cigarettes have not been approved by the (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) and we don’t know what is in them or if they are safe. Until these types of products are deemed certified or legal to sell by the FDA, they should be banned throughout Illinois,” said Hunter, vice-chair of the state’s Senate Public Health Committee.

I get the feeling Sen. Hunter believes that, by default, all new products/activities should be illegal. (Has the FDA approved Orbit Gum yet?)

 

[JerryRM]

Illinois is not the only state trying to ban e-cigs, Maryland and New York are also. They are trying to protect the income they get from the cigarette excise tax.

I suspect that we will see more cash strapped states doing the same thing very soon.

 

[scheherezade]

You can leave comments on this article. Might be a good idea considering whats going on. Many people believe what they hear without checking the facts, especially when you start throwing words like FDA around.

 

[AmyB66]

So is it just the selling of these that is considered illegal? What about use? Am I gonna get pulled over and arrested or fined for using one?

 

[curiousJan]

So is it just the selling of these that is considered illegal? What about use? Am I gonna get pulled over and arrested or fined for using one?

The way I read it, no possession is not covered by the language, and selling or buying will be a petty offense with only a fine.

Jan

 

[Vocalek]

The way I read it, no possession is not covered by the language, and selling or buying will be a petty offense with only a fine.

Jan

Nevertheless, we do not want this law to be passed. It sets a bad example. The proposed ban in Maryland carries a $1,000 fine, and the proposed ban in New York carrries a $10,000 fine. We need to nip this in the bud.

Some contact info is available here: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/campaigning-discussions/78337-email-addresses-il-md.html

Also here, along with suggestions on what to say, is the contact information for the House Rules Committee, which is one place to focus a concerted effort. This has already passed the Senate.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ois-bill-prohibit-sale-pvs-4.html#post1160951

 

[uzzaperez]

Yeah, in general I agree with Hunter. Everything should be illegal until someone decides it can be legal. Not the other way around. He's a true patriot, valiantly protecting us from the dangers of freedom, providing us with the liberty to choose from a pre-approved set of choices, graciously approved by people who know what is good for us since we can't be trusted to evaluate such things for ourselves, turning life into a multiple choice exam where our answers can be safely limited to A, B, C, D, or F-U. It is a brave new world.

 

[lonercom]

Had to register agian to post, dadgummit

What the Senator, in her zeal to kill more people, forgets is that the issue regarding the FDAs legal authority to control these products is mired in litigation. So far the Federal Court has ruled them as tobacco Products and as such limits their authority over them. We are currently waiting on a ruling from the Federal Appeals Court for the District of Columbia to rule. After that, I'm sure that we will have to wait for the Supreme Court to decide whether or not to take up the issue. This issue may take several years to be completely resolved.

The good Senator's actions, intentional or not, serve to usurp the legal process already underway and impose her own, or the special interest group she is beholden to, agenda on the citizens of Illinois.

In fact she is using the typical "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" approach to this legislation by entitling that section "Sale to Minors". Section (a) DOES restrict sales to "any person under 18 years of age" Subsections (a-5) and (a-6) replace the "any person under 18 years of age" with the term "Person" thus making the sale of such products to anyone illegal.

This is a common tactic of all political parties. Anyone that votes against this legislation is automatically labeled "unfair to kids"

This type of shortsighted, bandwagoneering legislation may very well backfire when legitimate inquiry proves these products to be safe and effective in reducing our dependence on tobacco.

Voters of Illinois should make note of the author, sponsors and those officials that support or vote in favor of this legislation and remember who they were when actual facts are published. These are the ones responsible for taking away your options, eroding your liberties, and ultimately preventing you from accessing an alternative that may have prevented your untimely death.

Smokers should always remember that the only crime we have committed was becoming addicted to a once "socially acceptable" drug. Had we been smart enough to get addicted to ...... or other illegal opiates, we would be eligible for free methadone and clean needles for the rest of our lives.

 

[ChipCurtis]

So is it just the selling of these that is considered illegal? What about use? Am I gonna get pulled over and arrested or fined for using one?

The state gov's are only really after the e-cig merchants, because they want to make sure that the tax money garnered from the sale of analogs does not continue to dissipate.

As far as personal users who are vaping now, they already consider that a loss and have ceded on that ground. What they are trying to do is cut their losses and shut down the e-cig industry in the US before more people find out about it.

There's no money to be made in busting individual users, they just want to shut down the mall kiosks and internet sites, where the majority of sales are made.

 

[ggmac2]

Had to register agian to post, dadgummit

Loner that was a great response !!!

 

[sentrarob]

Illinois is not the only state trying to ban e-cigs, Maryland and New York are also. They are trying to protect the income they get from the cigarette excise tax.

I suspect that we will see more cash strapped states doing the same thing very soon.

That really SUCKS, i live in Baltimore, MD.

 

[JerryRM]

That really SUCKS, i live in Baltimore, MD.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. There is a thread about it here on ECF.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...and-about-ban-sale-electronic-cigarettes.html

 

[curiousJan]

The way I read it, no possession is not covered by the language, and selling or buying will be a petty offense with only a fine.

Jan

Nevertheless, we do not want this law to be passed. It sets a bad example. The proposed ban in Maryland carries a $1,000 fine, and the proposed ban in New York carrries a $10,000 fine. We need to nip this in the bud.

Some contact info is available here: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/campaigning-discussions/78337-email-addresses-il-md.html

Also here, along with suggestions on what to say, is the contact information for the House Rules Committee, which is one place to focus a concerted effort. This has already passed the Senate.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ois-bill-prohibit-sale-pvs-4.html#post1160951

I whole-heartedly agree, Vocalek!!

Jan