Linda Harder of Panhandle Health District Misleads Rathdrum, Idaho City Council on E-Cigarettes

[Placebo Effect]

It seems the Rathdrum City Council was given a presentation about e-cigarettes at their October 11, 2011 Council meeting.

October Council Packet -- http://www.rathdrum.org/vertical/Si...4D6A7F61F}/uploads/October_Council_Packet.pdf

A write-up on her presentation can be found in their local newspaper, The Star on Page 1 and Page 3.

The recent craze involving the sale of E-cigarettes to minors hit a smoky future last Tuesday evening as
the Rathdrum City Council agreed the practice is unhealthy and should be ruled illegal.

. . .

Linda Harder of Panhandle Health District launched a compelling argument, complete with slides, graphs and information dealing with the alleged ill effect of E-cigarettes. “Smoke” from an Ecigarette, she said, is lethal if swallowed.

. . .

The same “harmful” chemicals found in cigarettes are in an E-cigarette – chemicals such as anti-freeze as well as the alleged harmful nicotine.

The sale of E-cigarettes is legal to minors whereas a juvenile cannot by law buy a pack of regular smokes. “And these E-cigarettes,” Harder said, “are appealing to youth as they can be flavored with chocolate and peanut butter to taste like a Reese’s Cup or orange and cream to make an orangesicle.

“Parents buy E-cigarettes thinking they’re less harmful than cigarettes and may help their sons or daughters quit smoking. Shops that sell Ecigarettes are located in youth zones – music stores, shopping malls.”

. . .

The Council agreed the issue should be addressed at a state level instead of before local regulations and enforcement.
City Administrator Brett Boyer was asked to prepare additional information along with a draft ordinance and an estimate of time it might take to get the issue in front of the state Legislature.

The issue returns to the council agenda for its Nov. 15 meeting.

I have no clue if they simply want a regulation banning sales to minors, or if they want to go further.

 

[Vocalek]

Who is Linda Harder? Linda Harder: Thank you for not smoking - Coeur d'Alene Press: Lifestyles

What is the organization Public Health Law & Policy? Here is their web site. Welcome to PHLP | PHLP

They apparently get quite a bit of funding from California tobacco tax money...so perhaps they have a vested interest in preventing the proliferation of products that might interfere with tobacco tax revenue.

And I downloaded a copy of their propaganda sheet on electronic cigarettes. View attachment PHLP-E-cigarette_fact_sheet_FINAL_revised_20111021.pdf

Notice how once again, people are obtaining their scientific information from press releases rather than consulting the scientific report itself.

 

[Placebo Effect]

Rathdrum, ID is right along the Washington / Idaho border. Spokane is only 45 minutes away if anyone knows a vaper there.

 

[Nicko]

The kind of people who graduated with honors from the University of Stupidity.

 

[Placebo Effect]

Battle of the Vapors

New article out of Coeur d’Alene, ID, about 25 minutes of Rathdrum

Coeur d’Alene is pushing for its own municipal ban on the devices for minors and e-cigarette use in public spaces within its boundaries.

Current lax regulation has raised concern that the devices will attract younger people to smoke. The electronic devices only face two federal restrictions. In September, the Department of Transportation announced it was no longer allowing passengers to use them on airplanes. Last summer, the Air Force prohibited the use of e-cigarettes in its workplaces and non-smoking public spaces.

. . .

According to school administrators and store owners, the focus on banning minors’ use of the devices may be misplaced.

School districts across the Magic Valley haven’t seen any reports of students smoking e-cigarettes on their campuses, nor have local schools updated their discipline manuals to include banning e-cigarettes. At this point, e-cigarettes are treated the same as any other type of tobacco product, said Scott Rogers, superintendent for the Minidoka County School District.

. . .

While schools are hardly the only place minors go to smoke, the SCPHD youth smoking cessation program hasn’t seen that many participants dabble in electronic smoking.

“In my classes, I’ve heard some of my kids talk about using them before,” said Elvia Caldera, health education specialist for the SCPHD. “But none of them talked about liking it. Real cigarettes are still cool to kids and so they just go for those.”

Even though the journalist got the DOT ban incorrect, kudos to her for actually talking to school officials and people who actually interact with kids so that they could be told the obvious: Kids aren't using them.

 

[BCB]

I live a little over an hour from Ranthrum but don't see what can be done. Looks like a self righteous and religious looney from Panhandle Health gave them a bunch of lies about e-cigs but I don't see anything about future meetings or requests for public comments.

 

[Placebo Effect]

I live a little over an hour from Ranthrum but don't see what can be done. Looks like a self righteous and religious looney from Panhandle Health gave them a bunch of lies about e-cigs but I don't see anything about future meetings or requests for public comments.

The article was very unclear. I'll try to find out at some point, and I'll keep you in mind.

 

[Scottinboca]

This lady is crazy. Don't you have to be 18 to buy it there. Anyhow, I hate these people with nothing better to do then infringing on other peoples rights. With the state of our country, there are any way more important issues then minors getting their hands on an E-cig. By the way, does this lady realize that there is no tobacco in these. People can be such a-holes. I could go on forever about this. It is our duty to educate the public on how wonderful our e-cigs are. I stopped smoking about 2 months ago. Not only has an e-cig helped, but I have found a new "fellowship" of us that absolutely love it like me. The support on these forums helps so much. After all, not smoking is a wonderful thing in itself. Leave us and our suppliers alone for your own BS interest groups Linda Harder!!!!!!!!!!!