[FONT=arial, sans-serif]I'm pretty proud of myself and I urge others to do the same. I clicked the CASAA link at the top of ECF, it gives you all the emails you need and what not. I blocked out the personal information for posting, cause you never know but it's recommended that you include it in your email.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, sans-serif]"Christopher xxxx[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, sans-serif]xxxxx xxxx Canyon Rd. unit xxx[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, sans-serif]Santa xxxxx, CA xxxxx[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, sans-serif](xxx) xxx-xxxx[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, sans-serif]Senator,[/FONT]
I am writing this email to urge you to vote no on SB 648. I'm sure you are familiar with this bill to some degree, it attempts to ban the use of electronic vapor cigarettes (e-cigarettes) where ever smoking conventional cigarettes is banned. SB 648 will also declare that the use of electronic vapor cigarettes is a hazard to the health of the general public, and would include e-cigarettes in all future smoking bans passed in California.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I'd like to take this opportunity to explain a little about myself. I am a 23 year old college student and I, as well as my friends and family actively participate in the political process. I have exercised my right to vote every chance I've gotten since I was 18 years old. Unfortunately, I also started smoking cigarettes when I turned 18, but thanks to electronic cigarettes I no longer smoke. I wish I could effectively communicate the difference that electronic cigarettes made in my ability to quit, I had already tried most of the smoking cessation products on the market by the time I gave electronic cigarettes a try. Electronic cigarettes made the quitting process less painful and more manageable.[/FONT]
Although, the real motivation to quit smoking was my grandmother. When my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, I made an agreement with her, I told her that I would quit smoking if she would get the treatment that she needed (chemotherapy and radiotherapy). Essentially, my grandmother was just going to let the cancer run its course. She and I knew that I was getting the easier part of the deal but she agreed anyway. My grandmother is alive and well today.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to electronic cigarettes because they're relatively new in comparison to other smoking cessation products. Although, the low risks associated with electronic cigarettes is supported by the research that has been conducted thus far. For example, Dr. Siegel of Boston University, Dr. Eissenberg of Virginia Commonwealth, Dr Maciej L Goniewicz of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Dr. Laugesen of Health New Zealand. It's also important to note that testing done by the FDA failed to find harmful levels of carcinogens or toxic levels of any chemical in the vapor, in spite of the press statement that was released. A substantial amount of mis information has been released as well, allegedly on the behalf of big tobacco. As I'm sure you know, it's difficult, but extremely important, to distinguish the truth from untruth. Hopefully, I can shed some light on this for you.[/FONT]
With regard to the April 17th meeting of the Health Committee, where Senator Corbett cited a study finding trace levels of metals in e-cigarettes as a reason to support banning e-cigarettes in public places. I urge you to please read the articles that Dr. Michael Siegel wrote in response to this issue.
Metals in Electronic Cigarette Vapor are Below USP Standards in Inhalation Medications
New Study Sounds Alarm about Metals Detected in Electronic Cigarettes, But Fails to Inform Readers that Nicotine Inhalers Have Similar Levels of the Same Metals
The nicotine inhalers that have been commonly prescribed by doctors for years and years, contain the same levels of metals that were found in the FDA's study. Yet, the FDA never condemned the use of nicotine inhalers, they have not been included in the SB 648 bill.
In the three years that I have used electronic cigarettes, I have used it in public every day and I have not had one person or business complain or object to my use. I have used my electronic cigarette in grocery stores, banks, the mall, the library, and even in class at school. It's important to mention that while many electronic cigarettes look like conventional cigarettes, many do not. Many electronic cigarettes also produce very little visible "vapor" and because of this I feel it would be very difficult to enforce this law in the first place. There is also no smell associated with electronic cigarettes, unlike the extremely offensive smell associated with conventional cigarettes.
The ingredients in most of the electronic cigarette solutions or "e-liquids" are simple food flavorings, vegetable glycerin and of course nicotine. Some manufactures use propylene glycol as a flavor carrier instead of vegetable glycerin, but most manufactures allow their customers to customize the ingredients they want in their solution. The levels of nicotine are also customizable by the user anywhere from 32mg/ml down to 0mg/ml.
In fact, if any of you are curious to how electronic cigarettes work and would like to try one out sans nicotine, I'm sure there are plenty of companies out there that would send you one with a flavor of your choice to examine and try.
It would be impossible to distinguish one electronic cigarette user from another. One user might just be vaporizing food flavoring and vegetable glycerin, while another might be vaporizing food flavoring, a propylene glycol/vegetable glycerin mix, and 16mg/ml nicotine. Neither user is contaminating the air space around them, but how can vegetable glycerin and food flavoring be banned anywhere?
I would also like to mention that I don't appreciate the way Senator Corbett misled the Health Committee on April 17th by claiming that she had never tried to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to adults. When in fact, Senator Corbett did try to ban the sale of e-cigarettes in California in 2009 with SB 400. It was only after Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill that Senator Corbett amended it to only ban sales to minors.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In closing, I urge you to please consider voting no one SB 648. Don't take my word for it, please inform yourself about electronic cigarettes and their use. I also ask that you please go to CASAA.org for more information regarding this subject.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I appreciate the opportunity to communicate my position on this issue and appreciate that you took the time to read this letter. Thank you for your public service.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Respectfully,[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, sans-serif]Christopher xxxx
[FONT=arial, sans-serif]xxxxx xxxx Canyon Rd. unit xxx[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, sans-serif]Santa xxxxx, CA xxxxx[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, sans-serif](xxx) xxx-xxxx"
What do you all think? I think it's pretty damn good. Sure, there's tons of people on here that could have been much more informative than I, but I'm proud non the less.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=arial, sans-serif]"Christopher xxxx[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, sans-serif]xxxxx xxxx Canyon Rd. unit xxx[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, sans-serif]Santa xxxxx, CA xxxxx[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, sans-serif](xxx) xxx-xxxx[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, sans-serif]Senator,[/FONT]
I am writing this email to urge you to vote no on SB 648. I'm sure you are familiar with this bill to some degree, it attempts to ban the use of electronic vapor cigarettes (e-cigarettes) where ever smoking conventional cigarettes is banned. SB 648 will also declare that the use of electronic vapor cigarettes is a hazard to the health of the general public, and would include e-cigarettes in all future smoking bans passed in California.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I'd like to take this opportunity to explain a little about myself. I am a 23 year old college student and I, as well as my friends and family actively participate in the political process. I have exercised my right to vote every chance I've gotten since I was 18 years old. Unfortunately, I also started smoking cigarettes when I turned 18, but thanks to electronic cigarettes I no longer smoke. I wish I could effectively communicate the difference that electronic cigarettes made in my ability to quit, I had already tried most of the smoking cessation products on the market by the time I gave electronic cigarettes a try. Electronic cigarettes made the quitting process less painful and more manageable.[/FONT]
Although, the real motivation to quit smoking was my grandmother. When my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, I made an agreement with her, I told her that I would quit smoking if she would get the treatment that she needed (chemotherapy and radiotherapy). Essentially, my grandmother was just going to let the cancer run its course. She and I knew that I was getting the easier part of the deal but she agreed anyway. My grandmother is alive and well today.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to electronic cigarettes because they're relatively new in comparison to other smoking cessation products. Although, the low risks associated with electronic cigarettes is supported by the research that has been conducted thus far. For example, Dr. Siegel of Boston University, Dr. Eissenberg of Virginia Commonwealth, Dr Maciej L Goniewicz of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Dr. Laugesen of Health New Zealand. It's also important to note that testing done by the FDA failed to find harmful levels of carcinogens or toxic levels of any chemical in the vapor, in spite of the press statement that was released. A substantial amount of mis information has been released as well, allegedly on the behalf of big tobacco. As I'm sure you know, it's difficult, but extremely important, to distinguish the truth from untruth. Hopefully, I can shed some light on this for you.[/FONT]
With regard to the April 17th meeting of the Health Committee, where Senator Corbett cited a study finding trace levels of metals in e-cigarettes as a reason to support banning e-cigarettes in public places. I urge you to please read the articles that Dr. Michael Siegel wrote in response to this issue.
Metals in Electronic Cigarette Vapor are Below USP Standards in Inhalation Medications
New Study Sounds Alarm about Metals Detected in Electronic Cigarettes, But Fails to Inform Readers that Nicotine Inhalers Have Similar Levels of the Same Metals
The nicotine inhalers that have been commonly prescribed by doctors for years and years, contain the same levels of metals that were found in the FDA's study. Yet, the FDA never condemned the use of nicotine inhalers, they have not been included in the SB 648 bill.
In the three years that I have used electronic cigarettes, I have used it in public every day and I have not had one person or business complain or object to my use. I have used my electronic cigarette in grocery stores, banks, the mall, the library, and even in class at school. It's important to mention that while many electronic cigarettes look like conventional cigarettes, many do not. Many electronic cigarettes also produce very little visible "vapor" and because of this I feel it would be very difficult to enforce this law in the first place. There is also no smell associated with electronic cigarettes, unlike the extremely offensive smell associated with conventional cigarettes.
The ingredients in most of the electronic cigarette solutions or "e-liquids" are simple food flavorings, vegetable glycerin and of course nicotine. Some manufactures use propylene glycol as a flavor carrier instead of vegetable glycerin, but most manufactures allow their customers to customize the ingredients they want in their solution. The levels of nicotine are also customizable by the user anywhere from 32mg/ml down to 0mg/ml.
In fact, if any of you are curious to how electronic cigarettes work and would like to try one out sans nicotine, I'm sure there are plenty of companies out there that would send you one with a flavor of your choice to examine and try.
It would be impossible to distinguish one electronic cigarette user from another. One user might just be vaporizing food flavoring and vegetable glycerin, while another might be vaporizing food flavoring, a propylene glycol/vegetable glycerin mix, and 16mg/ml nicotine. Neither user is contaminating the air space around them, but how can vegetable glycerin and food flavoring be banned anywhere?
I would also like to mention that I don't appreciate the way Senator Corbett misled the Health Committee on April 17th by claiming that she had never tried to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to adults. When in fact, Senator Corbett did try to ban the sale of e-cigarettes in California in 2009 with SB 400. It was only after Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill that Senator Corbett amended it to only ban sales to minors.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In closing, I urge you to please consider voting no one SB 648. Don't take my word for it, please inform yourself about electronic cigarettes and their use. I also ask that you please go to CASAA.org for more information regarding this subject.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I appreciate the opportunity to communicate my position on this issue and appreciate that you took the time to read this letter. Thank you for your public service.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Respectfully,[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, sans-serif]Christopher xxxx
[FONT=arial, sans-serif]xxxxx xxxx Canyon Rd. unit xxx[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, sans-serif]Santa xxxxx, CA xxxxx[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, sans-serif](xxx) xxx-xxxx"
What do you all think? I think it's pretty damn good. Sure, there's tons of people on here that could have been much more informative than I, but I'm proud non the less.[/FONT][/FONT]
