Connecticut: Attempt to Add E-Cigarettes to "Smoking" Ban (SB 990)

[Placebo Effect]

CASAA: Call to Action! Connecticut E-Cigarette Usage Ban -- SB 990

Connecticut: Attempt to Add E-Cigarettes to "Smoking" Ban -- SB 990

This bill would:
Ban the use of e-cigarettes in any public place where smoking is prohibited.

Because Connecticut law bans "smoking" in any tobacco shop that has changed its size or opened since the end of 2002, e-cigarette usage would also be banned in brick & mortar e-cigarette stores stores across Connecticut.

SB 990 is currently awaiting a hearing in the Joint Committee on Public Health, which is comprised of members from both the Connecticut House of Representatives and Senate. If you are from the Connecticut area and think you could attend and testify at this hearing, please e-mail us at board@casaa.org.

Full text of SB 990
Legislative tracking for SB 990

 

[Plumes.91]

I am in the middle of e-mailing E-Six, CherryVape, and Nuvocig. I am linking to the CASAA call the action page that goes through this. Is there anything you guys think I should include in the e-mails?

 

[Plumes.91]

I have e-mailed them the following:

CASAA- The Consumer Advocates for a Smoke-Free Alternatives Association have issued a CALL TO ACTION for all Connecticut vapers and Connecticut vape shops. This bill will ban e-cigarette use in all public areas within Connecticut. We are the front lines in the battle against unfair regulation. Please help me in this, we are all our state has.

Here is a link to the CASAA Call To Action Page:
CASAA: Call to Action! Connecticut E-Cigarette Usage Ban -- SB 990

PLEASE make sure this gets to the owner(s) of your company.
If we sit back and let this happen, we effectively bow down to the government and allow them to strip our right to vape in public.
We effectively sit back and say we don't care. E-cigarettes are JUST beginning to gain in popularity in recent years.
They are saving lives and we cannot allow the government to nip us in the bud and throw us into a bureaucratic imposed obscurity.

Vapor disperses quickly and for the most part, does not produce foul odor or enter into other's personal spaces!
It is often impossible to help someone make the switch to e-cigs in a shop without allowing them to try them FIRST!
This government measure would effectively stunt the amount of smokers that make the switch & can stunt your business!

PLEASE send me a reply to let me know you got this and to let me know you stand with us! This is very important to vapers everywhere.
CT banning e-cigs can easily set a precedent for other US states and can add to the fuel of the upcoming federal regulations in April.

PLEASE let me know you stand with us. It is important to contact the board members, your senators and congressmen.
PLEASE read this link and contact the board members at the very least: CASAA: Call to Action! Connecticut E-Cigarette Usage Ban -- SB 990

Thank you! I hope to hear from you soon! We CAN prevent this!

 

[Placebo Effect]

I am in the middle of e-mailing E-Six, CherryVape, and Nuvocig. I am linking to the CASAA call the action page that goes through this. Is there anything you guys think I should include in the e-mails?

Nope, just a plea for them to organize opposition and get in touch with CASAA (board@casaa.org) so we can inform them when we know that the public hearing is taking place.

 

[DC2]

Every vendor should be sending emails to their customers.

 

[Plumes.91]

I've just e-mailed DiscountVapers as well as they are based out of CT.

Please don't let me be the only one to contact our CT vendors! Everyone, contact ANY vendors you know of and remind them. Its always best to keep bugging each other in situations like this, humans aren't perfect and we should ALL become connected, vendors and their customers and patrons alike- when it comes to matters like this. Lets keep this fresh on each other's minds! If anyone here on ECF knows of more vendors to contact based in CT please post them here. Also post here to let us know your with us whether you live in CT or not?

Don't forget to hit this link and contact everyone you can: CASAA: Call to Action! Connecticut E-Cigarette Usage Ban -- SB 990

 

[Plumes.91]

Ok well I just e-mailed the above vendors with the above statement.
I've also contacted VapersPlace which I was told is in Hartford CT.
I basically sent what I posted above to each.
I hope the link to the CASAA call to action page will ring as important.

Is anyone here saying that I should wait to contact committee members on the points outlined on the CASAA page? Should I wait to hear more information about this, just to "be sure?"

 

[DC2]

Please don't let me be the only one to contact our CT vendors!

Have you looked to see if there are any Connecticut vaper groups?

 

[Plumes.91]

I have not looked in CT vaper groups but I did post a link to this in the E-Six thread here.
I'll be looking for CT vapers groups next.

 

[DC2]

I found this...
Connecticut Vapers Club

Not much action there, but it's a start.

 

[Plumes.91]

Thanks DC2.

 

[Plumes.91]

Anyone from CT on the forum tonight?

As I receive replies, I will be replying that it would be helpful for the vendors to send out e-mail messages to their subscribers about this and I will also ask them to contact CASAA. I have received an e-mail from CherryVape thus far, and they said of course they will be standing with us in this. Hoping more replies will follow. In the meantime, if your from CT, please connect with us here.

CASAA just shared with me a CT Vapers facebook group Here: http://www.facebook.com/groups/newenglandvapers/

 

[frosting]

Planning on being there. I have the day off apparently, I think if I'm right about the date. Not sure. E-mailed CASAA.

Never testified before. This will be an experience.

Just got an e-mail back confirming I will be attending. Only a week to prepare a speech! Oh boy. Nervous already, if I didn't work 9 hours today and I wasn't utterly exhausted I'd start it up right now.

 

[Brewlady]

Calling all Connecticut (and New England, U.S. and worldwide) vapers!

The CASAA Call to Action page has been updated.

CASAA: Call to Action! Connecticut E-Cigarette Usage Ban -- SB 990 (UPDATED)

The hearing for a ban on the use of e-cigs everywhere smoking is banned is set for 10:30 am on Friday, March 15th.

Please take a moment to contact the legislators, contact information can be found at the link above, along with helpful suggestions about what to say.

If you can attend the meeting, consider doing so. Lots of law-makers only know what the ANTZ have told them about e-cigs, many have never heard of Tobacco Harm Reduction. Let's take this opportunity to inform them about THR, and help stop this senseless bill.

 

[Plumes.91]

Thank you for that BrewLady! The way you worded that post, it gives me hope.
Hope that maybe there will be people there that will know exactly what to say.
Hopefully this is seen quickly. I just found out about this two days ago now.

Good luck to everyone crafting the e-mail they will be sending to each legislator.
If you do not live in CT, please do not hesitate crafting an e-mail and sending it to the CT legislators.
Their e-mails are listed in the link above. This is VERY important to CT citizens.
This is very important to ALL vapers, as state law tends to set precedent in US national law making.
Please give us your support by sending a quick e-mail to each of the legislators listed in the link above.
The link above also outlines points to cover in your e-mail. Makes it very easy to help! We need you.

 

[DC2]

Never testified before. This will be an experience.

Don't worry, I'm sure CASAA will give you some help and support.

 

[DC2]

If you do not live in CT, please do not hesitate crafting an e-mail and sending it to the CT legislators.

We all have to help each other, because some day they will come for you.
As a community we have to stick together and act as one, no matter where we all live.

The link above also outlines points to cover in your e-mail. Makes it very easy to help! We need you.

The Call To Action points are invaluable in helping to craft what you want to say.
Don't feel as if you need to hit every point, only the ones you are comfortable with using.

And your own story is probably the most important thing you can give.

But whatever you do, please don't copy and paste.
Make a small effort to use your own words, your own emotions, and your own story.

In the past there have been large copy and paste efforts that have turned against us.
They disregarded most of the comments by saying that they were all part of a lobbying effort.

 

[Berylanna]

You might mention that the biggest chunk of the population is headed towards senility over the next 25 years, and ask them whether they'd rather old boomers fall asleep smoking or vaping. Discouraging vaping is encouraging people to just forget the whole thing and keep smoking.

 

[Factor52]

UPDATE (3/06/2013): The Joint Committee on Public Health will hold a public hearing on Friday, March 15th at 10:30 a.m. at Room 3000 in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. CASAA Director Karen Carey, as well as several other vapers, are planning on attending. Those attending should arrive by 9:15 a.m. Please e-mail us at board@casaa.org if you think you can attend.

For the benefit of those ECF folk in CT and nearby that plan on attending, Does anyone have an address for the Legislative office building and any helpful parking tips?

 

[frosting]

UPDATE (3/06/2013): The Joint Committee on Public Health will hold a public hearing on Friday, March 15th at 10:30 a.m. at Room 3000 in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. CASAA Director Karen Carey, as well as several other vapers, are planning on attending. Those attending should arrive by 9:15 a.m. Please e-mail us at board@casaa.org if you think you can attend.

For the benefit of those ECF folk in CT and nearby that plan on attending, Does anyone have an address for the Legislative office building and any helpful parking tips?

There is a parking garage at the building. The space "may" be limited according to the Legislative Office Building, but it is a public parking garage. The address is 300 Capitol Avenue, Hungerford St, Hartford, CT 06106. Have at least 20$ handy just in case for parking. Not sure about Hartford but I know New Haven parking is a ransom so I'd guess Hartford isn't much better.