Letter signed by 37 State AGs urges FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg to quickly propose e-cig regulations

[Bill Godshall]

Letter signed by 37 State AGs urges FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg to quickly propose e-cig regulations, falsely claims e-cigs are unsafe and as addictive as cigarettes, falsely accuses companies of marketing to youth, fails to reveal that the “deeming” regulation would threaten the lives of vapers and smokers by banning all e-cigs and that other proposed regulations would ban 99% of e-cig products and give the e-cig industry to Big tobacco.
http://www.naag.org/assets/files/pdf/E Cigarette Final Letter (5)(1).pdf

 

[RT88]

it's up to 41 states on that request to the FDA. U.S. Attorneys General urge FDA to regulate e-cigarettes

correction: 37 states, 3 terrritories and the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection (?)

big money draws big fish and the competition. how much would big oil spend on lobbyists if you could add synthetic octane to water and put it in your car??

 

[ClippinWings]

I assume they also did not disclose their conflict of interest in regards to lost tobacco Tax revenue

 

[wolfie_beast]

That is just... horrifying. But thanks for posting. And for everything you do.

 

[Spazmelda]

This "as addictive as cigarettes" thing is really peeving me. I've just started seeing it in the last week or so, about the time the CDC study came out, and it seems like every politician and reporter who gets a chance is spouting it off now. As far as I know there is no research even addressing this question, and when someone finally does get around to addressing it, I don't think it's going to be the case.

ETA: And of course, the whole issue peeves me off, but that's what popped into my head so I went with it,

 

[ennagizer]

I believe their whole point is to regulate the sale and advertising to youth, which I agree with. What I don't agree with is they way they are going about it.

The nicotine found in e-cigarettes is highly addictive, has immediate bio-chemical effects on the brain and body at any dosage, and is toxic in high doses

Isn't it the same for patches, gum, lozenges and lollipops?

The cost of e-cigarettes has fallen dramatically, as well, making them more affordable, and thus more attractive to young people.

Really? I'd like to see a price reduction in Geritol and see if young people start buying it. Keep the prices high so young people won't buy it? Works real well with cigarettes, don't it?

Moreover, e-cigarettes are not being marketed as smoking cessation devices, but rather as recreational alternatives to real cigarettes.

Uh, yeah. Isn't that how they have to be marketed? They can't be marketed as smoking cessation devices. Duh.

Consumers are led to believe that e-cigarettes are a safe alternative to cigarettes,

Well, aren't they?

E-cigarettes contain fruit and candy flavors -- such as cherry, chocolate, gummy bear, and bubble gum -- that are appealing to youth.

And also to someone coming up on 5 decades on this earth, like me.

By intentional use or mistaken ingestion from the non-child resistant containers, e-cigarettes and liquid nicotine refills can deliver dangerously high doses of liquid nicotine to youth.

Don't forget to mention dozens of other potentially toxic products on the market. Ooops, too late, they forgot.

Finally, e-cigarette manufacturers, such as White Cloud Cigarettes, offer reusable e-cigarette “skins” -- known as Vapor Jackets -- that are intended to make the e-cigarette desirable or fashionable and are available in a variety of patterns that appeal to children, one of which uses images from the popular video game, Angry Birds.

Silly adults, don't you know Angry Brids are for kids only? So much for being able to personalize your gear. By the way, I wonder what kind of alcohol paraphernalia these AGs have. Of course, alcohol is not marketed to youth. I don't see anyone complaining about a Dalmatian on a fire truck, bud bowl, captain morgan, and of course, The Simpsons. Homer can drink all the beer he wants, but don't dare put an ecig in his hands.

 

[RT88]

I'm not against requiring ID for 18 yrs. This is just the first legal step to regulating and taxing it. Then they can get the gov to pay for more studies. Nothing wrong with that unless the researchers have agendas. Then they can legally classify it as not only tobacco, but a replacement therapy drug. Then more regulations and taxes. can you say $1/mL ?

but its a house of cards because you can DIY...until they start requiring licenses to even buy the DIY ingredients. ah yes, its both a blessing and a curse to know how this modern blend of democratic republic operates with the legalized form of corruption called corporate lobbyists.

 

[Angiebubs]

Is there anything we can do to counter this?

 

[gayhalo]

Stay calm and keep vaping. I don't know what your government is like but all these blatant lies and assumptions should only make them see that there is no real reason to regulate (other than age restriction). If there was one REAL reason to regulate they would be shouting it from the rooftops. It looks obvious to me that there is real desperation, I hope for all our sakes they can see it too. I am leaving tomorrow for three weeks in Madison GA so I will be watching from over there.

 

[ut1205]

Is there anything we can do to counter this?

There probably would be if people (politicians) were looking for the "truth" but truth doesn't matter to an individual or politician with an agenda. Can you really see ANY politician defending anything that looks like smoking and contains nicotine. It would be immediate political death. Think "My opponent advocates use of tobacco products".

I think vaping will always be around but the cost will be prohibitive in the name of "the children". I read on another thread where BT claims that 1mg nic = 1 pack of analogs. If that is used as the benchmark then a 15ml bottle of juice could have over $60.00 taxes.

Internet sales will be gone and we will be limited to B&M sales. Pre-made flavors will be a thing of the past. I guess some B&M's could sell unflavored and you could add the flavoring yourself. Whatever is comming will not be pretty.

This is just my opinion but I have been around long enough to remember when I smoked on airplanes, in resturants, and even the grocery store. Just look how far we have come since then.

 

[Uma]

My blood is boiling, my heart is heavy, .... Yet I can't help but laugh at their panic. They can't justify anything they say, everything they say is a lie, and if they don't hurry, they'll be caught out before the taxes are invented.

 

[thew92]

Fight for your Right to Vape - Daily Action Plan for Wednesday 9-25-13

Forty State Attorney Generals sent this letter to the FDA.

http://spredd.it/fKcq1y03
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[thew92]

double post .

 

[SeniorBoy]

TODAY Nevada AG just signed the letter. See: Attorney General Masto Calls on FDA to Regulate E-Cigarettes, Prohibit Sales to Minors

Quote: Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto today urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) to place restrictions on the advertising and ingredients of the popular, highly-addictive product, and prohibit its sale to minors.

URL of the letter in pdf format: http://ag.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/agnvgov/Content/News/PR/PR_Docs/2013/E_Cigarette_Final_Letter.pdf

Makes my blood boil. I'm all for regulating under 18 kids BUT the procedures they want to use are the wrong ones. Consider the following from the letter and it's impact:

E-cigarettes contain fruit and candy flavors -- such as cherry, chocolate, gummy bear, and bubble
gum -- that are appealing to youth. The FDA has banned such flavors from cigarettes and should
take the same action regarding e-cigarettes.

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[Ranic85]

I can take a lot of my freedoms being stripped from me, but if they take my e-cig, I will lead the civil war!

 

[TUS172]

Vapers are going to get screwed... nothing is going to stop the gov't from getting control, over regulating and taxing the crap out of this. Stock up now while you can.

 

[Bill Godshall]

Here's the press release issued by NAAG, with nearly identical press releases issued by the different State AGs.
NAAG | AGs urge FDA to Regulate Sale and Advertising of E-Cigarettes

Here's the Columbus Dispatch article stating that Ohio AG Mike DeWine coauthored the letter with MA AG Coakley
DeWine urges FDA to regulate electronic cigarettes | The Columbus Dispatch

Back in 2004, then US Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH) cosponsored the originally introduced FSPTCA with then Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) along with then Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA).

Please note that the FSPTCA was negotiated and drafted by Phillip Moris (to protect its Marlboro cigarette monopoly from competition, including from far less hazardous smokeless tobacco) and by CTFK's Matt Myers in collaboration with GSK funded Pinney's Mitch Zeller (to protect GSK's NRT monopoly from competition, including from low risk smokeless tobacco products).

Basically, the State AGs (as well as FDA's Mitch Zeller, CDC's Tom Frieden and drug industry funded CTFK, ACS, AHA, ALA, AAP, Legacy, etc.) are using the same play book they used from 2004-2009 to lobby for enactment of the FSPTCA. The only difference is that they've changed the word "cigarettes" to "e-cigarettes", as they are now falsely accusing e-cigs and e-cig companies of being the same as cigarettes and cigarette companies from decades ago.

 

[ClippinWings]

Makes my blood boil. I'm all for regulating under 18 kids BUT the procedures they want to use are the wrong ones. Consider the following from the letter and it's impact:

E-cigarettes contain fruit and candy flavors -- such as cherry, chocolate, gummy bear, and bubble
gum -- that are appealing to youth. The FDA has banned such flavors from cigarettes and should
take the same action regarding e-cigarettes.

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

the difference is that Cigarettes have a natural flavor, that some find unpleasant, that is hidden by adding other flavors... eLiquid does not. Removing flavors from eLiquid that "appeal to children" would require the government to get into the business of deciding what is appropriate flavors for adults... STRICTLY on the (extremely subjective) basis of the flavor, not it's effect in use.

 

[GetVaked]

We are screwed. Wouldn't be the first time, wont be the last in this failing country.

 

[Elnroth]

Fight for your Right to Vape - Daily Action Plan for Wednesday 9-25-13

Forty State Attorney Generals sent this letter to the FDA.

http://spredd.it/fKcq1y03
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Tweeted. Everyone should jump on this. Politicians love Twitter for some reason. We should bombard them.