That is a good point props76 and I'm sure they may try and kick up a fuss, but there are other products, such as the Nicotrol Inhaler where Nicotine is the active ingredient; the other inactive components of the product are menthol and a porous plug which are pharmacologically inactive.
There are studies such as the following, that are of the firm belief that the pure nicotine products offer the best alternative and a few of the Nicotine NRT's are in a purer form.
http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/images/pdfs/harm_reduction
"Pure nicotine products (nicotine replacement therapy or NRT) have been developed to
provide an alternative and much safer source of the drug and come in the form of patches, lozenges, inhalers, nasal sprays and gum. Use of NRT doubles the chances of quitting successfully4. It is also increasingly seen as having a role in situations where smoking is not permitted. There is a distinct possibility that people may come to use pure nicotine long-term in place of smoking, especially as more effective or attractive products (e.g. ones that deliver faster ‘hits’) are developed. Cancer Research UK therefore calls for research into the possible role of long term pure nicotine use and its effect on health and on quitting rates."
"Between the most harmful form of nicotine (smoked
tobacco) and the least harmful, pure nicotine, lie the various forms of non-smoked (chewed, sucked) or smokeless
tobacco."
"More attractive and efficient pure nicotine products which contain only nicotine and not any other
tobacco constituents, (like the current medicinal products on the market such as NRT) are needed for heavily addicted smokers, in particular the most disadvantaged, to relieve their cravings without the harmful effects of smoking. Currently NRT is regulated as a medicine and its availability is restricted. These barriers to product development and must be removed, and products must be made available in a form and at a price that is attractive as and alternative to smoking. This must be accompanied by effective social marketing so that people understand that it is not the nicotine itself that is harmful but that the harmfulness of delivery (burning tobacco in the case of cigarettes) varies greatly."
