Our media image has changed recently as we always hoped it would, due to two things happening: the media gradually working out that this is a good thing despite the FDA's pharma-funded propaganda; and more importantly, as celebs and journos get with the program.
There is nothing the media love more than celebs, and if they puff in public, well, it must be OK then. Plus the fact that a lot of journos smoke, and many of them were bound to switch so they can get back to 'smoking' in the office, something they always did, and have sorely missed.
Once you get Leonardo di Caprio [
thank you Poeia], Katherine Heigl and Carrie Fisher puffing on camera, and leader writers puffing in the newspaper office, then it's job done.
Big
tobacco have all but shut up now, as they are not stupid - apart from Imperial Tobacco - since as cigarette sales shrink, they need a new market. Snus and e-cigs are tailor-made for the job. Expect a Marlboro E-cig before long. It looks as if the only one of the giant tobacco corporates without any forward planning is Imperial.
Big pharma are determined to shut e-cigs down one way or another, and they certainly won't stop just because e-cigs are now legally classed as a tobacco product. It just means they will change tack. Remember that quit-smoking drugs are a billion-dollar a year business, and chemotherapy drugs and so on for treating sick smokers are another billion-dollar business. Pharma stands to lose incalculable sums of money if smokers don't buy quit-smoking drugs and don't get sick and need treatment drugs.
They own the FDA and will figure out ways to get regulations brought in that gradually reduce either the attractiveness of e-cigs to buyers or the ease of purchase / sale / shipping. In addition they will influence city authorities to restrict the use of e-cigs.
So in essence e-cigs are safe for the time being - but expect to see a continuing series of legal battles as the corrupted attempt to restrict or stop sales.
