...so (of course) I brought up e-cigs. 
Went to a fund-raiser for a local history museum and our area's state senator were there.
Knowing that South Carolina had recently tabled some legislation about e-cigs (thank you CAASA for letting me know about it), I took the opportunity to introduce myself.
I said that I knew about the tabled legislation and asked him not to do anything to make e-cigs less available. I told him that I'd smoked a pack-and-a-half of cigarettes a day for thirty years and that I'd tried e-cigarettes five months ago and hadn't touched a cigarette since.
Both he and his wife were very friendly and asked several questions about how I switched, how I felt, etc. I got in that I'd tried the convenience store variety about a year ago but they hadn't worked (because they're not very good). I showed them my set-up (a very pretty, music-themed ego with charms, etc. ) and explained that the different flavors were important. Took a little puff so they could experience what it smelled like (Snickerdoodle, i.e. cinnamon cookie - umm, good).
The wife asked about health benefits. I told her that my son had been the first to notice that my cough had disappeared (exactly one week after I started vaping). My O2 saturation level was 100%. I also mentioned that I was a nurse and that nicotine - like caffeine - was basically a mild stimulant. I also pointed out that the FDA had approved long-term use of nicotine (via gum/patches) as safe.
(Yes, I practiced what I wanted to say beforehand. )
It was a short conversation - five minutes max - but I feel good about it.
PS - The Senator said that they "weren't going to do anything against them" (meaning e-cigs).
PPS - I know South Carolina isn't a *big* state but - heck, every little bit helps, right?
Went to a fund-raiser for a local history museum and our area's state senator were there.
Knowing that South Carolina had recently tabled some legislation about e-cigs (thank you CAASA for letting me know about it), I took the opportunity to introduce myself.
I said that I knew about the tabled legislation and asked him not to do anything to make e-cigs less available. I told him that I'd smoked a pack-and-a-half of cigarettes a day for thirty years and that I'd tried e-cigarettes five months ago and hadn't touched a cigarette since.
Both he and his wife were very friendly and asked several questions about how I switched, how I felt, etc. I got in that I'd tried the convenience store variety about a year ago but they hadn't worked (because they're not very good). I showed them my set-up (a very pretty, music-themed ego with charms, etc.
) and explained that the different flavors were important. Took a little puff so they could experience what it smelled like (Snickerdoodle, i.e. cinnamon cookie - umm, good). The wife asked about health benefits. I told her that my son had been the first to notice that my cough had disappeared (exactly one week after I started vaping). My O2 saturation level was 100%. I also mentioned that I was a nurse and that nicotine - like caffeine - was basically a mild stimulant. I also pointed out that the FDA had approved long-term use of nicotine (via gum/patches) as safe.
(Yes, I practiced what I wanted to say beforehand.
)It was a short conversation - five minutes max - but I feel good about it.
PS - The Senator said that they "weren't going to do anything against them" (meaning e-cigs).
PPS - I know South Carolina isn't a *big* state but - heck, every little bit helps, right?
