Help me understand the "Ban"

[Elendil]

There are many, many threads that have been started that indicate that as of May 5th there will be an FDA ban on ecig materials. Not being in the know as many on the forum seem to be and not being prone to run around repeating was has been speculated by many I am hoping someone can help me with a few questions.

Before I ask the questions, I want to be clear that I certainly understand what a ban would mean to U.S. suppliers. I am not diminishing the devastating effect a for real ban would have on these folks. I am strictly asking these questions from the perspective of an ecig consumer.

1. Can anyone provide a link to a mainstream, reputable media source for this story that a ban will occur on May 5? So far all I have seen is an article from a fringe publication that may or may not be a hoax.

2. My understanding is that there is an existing ban in Canada and Australia on ecigs (juice or components, I'm not sure). If that is so, how are people in those countries able to get their supplies? Will a ban really stop us from obtaining what we need?

3. Has there actually been any formal hearings by the FDA on the subject of ecigs? Have the results of any of these hearing been published by a mainstream media source?

If these questions have actually been answered here and I have missed it, then I will stand corrected in advance. If not, then I think there is much todo about nothing.

 

[radiokaos]

I can't say anything about the ban since all people in DC will know about that.

What I can say is, that many suppliers will still sell under the radar and get you the stuff you need. How long that goes on is anyone's guess.

 

[breakfastchef]

Everything is speculation right now. There currently is no ban.

 

[Elendil]

Everything is speculation right now. There currently is no ban.

That part I got, I was just looking at where people are getting their info before we all start running around screaming "the sky is falling".........

 

[LaceyUnderall]

Elendil -

Here is my understanding of what is currently happening:

Bill Godshall of SmokeFree PA (tobaccofree.org), received a copy of an email from a person within the FDA that was (inadvertently) sent out to several members of Congress. This email, in it's entirety is quite short but basically says that on May 5, there would be a full on media blitz telling people about the ecig and that they are not FDA approved.

Bill then responded to this email, as did several others. The person who's email address sent out this email, did not respond, however, another person did from the FDA. This email basically states that the email that went out in the first place was not factual and that is not the stance of the FDA.

So. Was the original email real? No one knows for sure. Is May 5th going to be the coming down of some crazy hammer? No one knows that for sure either. Thus far, there have been no public hearings of any kind regarding the e-cig, the liquid etc.

As far as a ban, there is currently no ban. What is happening is that the FDA is stopping shipments coming into the US. This is where the Smoking Everywhere lawsuit comes in. They are making the argument that while the electronic cigarette functions like a tobacco cigarette, the FDA has no right to regulate said products as they do not have the right to regulate tobacco.

There are different camps on whether the FDA has control over nicotine. I personally do not think they do UNLESS it is being marketed as a quit smoking/health product.

So as of right now, the goal for Smoking Everywhere, as I can tell, is to get their large shipment that was just stopped recently, out of hoc on the basis that the FDA does not have control over nicotine/tobacco products.

As far as Canada - That is not a ban. Australia has a ban. Canada wants any products with nicotine to be regulated and they have the power to do so since in their laws, they have granted Health Canada the ability to regulate nicotine products of any kind. The US currently does not have this in place for the FDA.

Go CUBS!

 

[Kate]

It all depends on how you define 'ban'

 

[riddle80]

I'm in wait and see mode. It seems to be a guessing game until we see an official ruling.

 

[DaveB]

Any suppliers on the governments radar will probably receive a letter of warning to cease and desist in the sale of banned products. If the supplier continues to sell, the government will file a complaint and possibly send US marshals to enforce it.

 

[verhoeven]

I have a friend that said his smoke shop received a letter from the state of illinois not to sell e-cigarettes and that they were against the law. He has stop selling them at his shop in Peora, IL.

I do not know if this is the true facts, but will investigate more.

I have not hear anything about the state banning these, so I really think it's some kind of misunderstanding.

I did a piece with the local paper a few weeks ago and nothing like this was mention.

 

[Webby]

Elendil -

Here is my understanding of what is currently happening:

Bill Godshall of SmokeFree PA (tobaccofree.org), received a copy of an email from a person within the FDA that was (inadvertently) sent out to several members of Congress. This email, in it's entirety is quite short but basically says that on May 5, there would be a full on media blitz telling people about the ecig and that they are not FDA approved.

Bill then responded to this email, as did several others. The person who's email address sent out this email, did not respond, however, another person did from the FDA. This email basically states that the email that went out in the first place was not factual and that is not the stance of the FDA.

So. Was the original email real? No one knows for sure. Is May 5th going to be the coming down of some crazy hammer? No one knows that for sure either. Thus far, there have been no public hearings of any kind regarding the e-cig, the liquid etc.

As far as a ban, there is currently no ban. What is happening is that the FDA is stopping shipments coming into the US. This is where the Smoking Everywhere lawsuit comes in. They are making the argument that while the electronic cigarette functions like a tobacco cigarette, the FDA has no right to regulate said products as they do not have the right to regulate tobacco.

There are different camps on whether the FDA has control over nicotine. I personally do not think they do UNLESS it is being marketed as a quit smoking/health product.

So as of right now, the goal for Smoking Everywhere, as I can tell, is to get their large shipment that was just stopped recently, out of hoc on the basis that the FDA does not have control over nicotine/tobacco products.

As far as Canada - That is not a ban. Australia has a ban. Canada wants any products with nicotine to be regulated and they have the power to do so since in their laws, they have granted Health Canada the ability to regulate nicotine products of any kind. The US currently does not have this in place for the FDA.

Go CUBS!

Well put - nice synopsis of the current conventional wisdom.

 

[LaceyUnderall]

I have a friend that said his smoke shop received a letter from the state of illinois not to sell e-cigarettes and that they were against the law. He has stop selling them at his shop in Peora, IL.

I do not know if this is the true facts, but will investigate more.

I have not hear anything about the state banning these, so I really think it's some kind of misunderstanding.

I did a piece with the local paper a few weeks ago and nothing like this was mention.

Please do keep us updated. As there are no bans in place yet, this seems fishy... (not that your friend is fishy... but the state of IL is pulling a fast one)

 

[Elendil]

OK, so here is where I am at. THis thread has been up 9 hours and been viewed almost 350 times by what I am sure are very knowledgeable forum members. No one has yet shown me anything that indicates there is a ban coming.

At this point I am forced to conclude that this impending "ban" is a pile of (insert expletive here) and that we are all running around in panic like a bunch of fools...........

On the plus side, I now have to make no more ecig purchases for 2 years............

 

[Webby]

So there you go.

...and on the other hand...you've got different fingers...

 

[Bryn]

If ban is not in effect yet then why is the shipment of US suppliers being held up or sent back? This does not make sense to me. I would think that if ban went into effect then they would block the shipment.

Like a wagon without horse pulling it. No leg to stand on at all to even touch the shipment of US suppliers ... yet.

Are we really in America? To me ... America is no longer a country, but rather THE CORPORATION! From what I understand Phillip Morris, the tobacco company, is pushing it and the Senate/Congress are bowing to him. Nice!

Like you, I don't understand the "Ban".

 

[Bryn]

Maybe this will bring attention to FDA.

Cyclamate the Sweetener was banned in 1960's because Sugar barons fought and won, but 20 years later FDA found it harmless. Now it's Phillip Morris, the largest tobacco company is pushing it through.

FDA, we know you're doing this ALL FOR MONEY.

Take a look at picture of me and my dog on the left (avatar). That dog was my wonderful hearing/signal service dog named Shane. She could read over 100 words in sign language (I am deaf) and she was my lifeline. She was 6 years old when she died from Rimadyl a year ago. As far as I know... Rimadyl was originally marketed for humans, but was proven unsafe so taken off then given to dogs! So many of dogs have died from this drug (doghealth2.yahoo.com) There was a class action lawsuit against Pfizer, the drug company, and they (Pfizer) LOST. Yet FDA continues to allow this drug. They have my case number.

 

[Elle]

sorry about your dog bryn- thats terrible!

 

[LaceyUnderall]

ditto on that bryn. may your sweet puppy be wagging like crazy in doggie heaven.

 

[dibbyb]

This forum is full of bogus e-cig ban stories - don't believe any of them!
They're probably propagated by e-cig retailers to boost their business.

 

[LuckySevens4U]

This forum is full of bogus e-cig ban stories - don't believe any of them!
They're probably propagated by e-cig retailers to boost their business.

If you are such an expert, sir, would it be possible for you to tell us why most all of the supplier's juices and parts have been held up in customs and don't seem to be going anywhere soon? In addition, why is a major company suing the FDA over this exact issue? Just curious and thought you might want to explain what you are in-the know about better to us.

 

[AnimeFur]

What I still struggle with is the fact that anyone can go to specialty shops and buy Hookahs and bongs, even though they are a drug delivery device that is not approved by the FDA.

So, what is the difference with PV's?