Pity you missed him, around midnight UK time he was online, hence my efforts to post the website for him. He does not have enough posts to enable him to post weblinks - perhaps a moderator could fix this for him so he can get info to us fast.
C.
Now is the Time To Act! I am Serious! **updated**
- Thread starter LaceyUnderall
- Start date
- th_trl_thread_readers 0
-
- Tags
- bloog revolution smoke 51 volcano
- Status
Pity you missed him, around midnight UK time he was online, hence my efforts to post the website for him. He does not have enough posts to enable him to post weblinks - perhaps a moderator could fix this for him so he can get info to us fast.
C.
Thank you for the update, even if it is bad news.
I've been crossing my fingers that Senator Coburn will place an indefinite hold on the bill.
- Apr 2, 2009
- 5,171
- 13,288
- 67
Below is an e-mail I sent out on 8/1/07 following Senate HELP Cmte mark-up and approval of Sen. Kennedy's FDA tobacco bill, including amendments offered by cmte members (some of which are likely to be offered again). We need to convince Burr, Hagan and/or other Senators to offer reasonable and responsible smokefree tobacco harm reduction amendment(s) that allow e-cigarettes and recently introduced smokefree tobacco products to remain on the market and regulated as alternatives to cigarettes, and we need to convince other Senators to support. Republicans will be much more likely to support amendments than Democrats, as most of the latter don't want to piss off Kennedy or Waxman.
Bill Godshall
From: "smokefree" <SMOKEFREE@compuserve.com>
To: "Health Advocates" <bg-announce@smokescreen.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 3:29 PM
Subject: [bg-announce]Senate HELP Cmte bans clove cigs, passes Philip Morris backed FDA bill
The U.S. Senate HELP Committee has approved S. 625, the Philip Morris
backed FDA tobacco legislation.
During today's markup session, the committee approved Senator Mike Enzi's
amendment #12 (to ban clove cigarettes), a provision that was in the
original legislation before Senator Ted Kennedy changed the bill several
weeks ago after Philip Morris announced it would begin selling Marlboro
clove cigarettes.
Amazingly, the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, American Cancer Society,
American Heart Association and American Lung Association OPPOSED Senator
Enzi's clove cigarette amendment and ALL OTHER amendments that would have
improved the public health provisions of the bill, including Senator Enzi's
amendment #4 (to require Canadian style graphic color warnings covering 50%
of cigarette packages, which the HELP Committee approved last week).
Also today, the Senate HELP Committee approved Senator Johnny Isakson's
amendment #3, Senator Richard Burr's amendments #1 and #6 (with
modifications) and Senator Kennedy's technical corrections, while rejecting
Senator Burr's amendments #2, #3, #5, #8 and #10.
Last week, the committee approved Senator Isakson's amendment #1 (in
addition to Senator Enzi's amendment #4), while rejecting Senator Orrin
Hatch's amendment #1.
It should be noted that Senator Burr's amendments #1 and #6, and Senator
Isakson's amendments #1 and #3 (all of which were approved by the
committee) will have virtually no or no negative public health impact for
the bill.
Still unresolved are Senator Enzi's amendments #8 and #9, Senator Tom
Coburn's amendments #1 and #2, Senator Hatch's amendment #6, and Senator
Burr's amendment #11, all of which are likely to be worked out and
considered on the Senate floor.
Below is a summary of the amendments that were filed to S. 625 (including
those that were not offered during committee markup), as well as Senator
Enzi's press releases criticizing today's committee approval of the Philip
Morris backed legislation, and discussing his amendment to ban clove
cigarettes.
Smokefree Pennsylvania shares Senator Enzi's concerns about S. 625,
applauds his leadership to improve the bill, and supports his alternative
HEALTH Act (S. 1834), which would reduced smoking by 90% over the
next 20 years.
Bill Godshall
Smokefree Pennsylvania
412-351-5880
- - -
Smokefree Pennsylvania endorsed 15* of the 36 amendments filed to S. 625
because each of those 15 amendments almost certainly would improve the
public health benefits of the legislation. An * precedes each public
health improvement amendment. Other amendments would have negative,
ambiguous or uncertain public health ramifications for the legislation.
S. 625
Amendment Purpose
*Enzi #1 Grant FDA authority to ban tobacco products
*Enzi #2 Grant FDA authority to reduce nicotine in tobacco products to
zero
*Enzi #3 Require product standards to conform to Data Quality Act
*Enzi #4 Require color and graphic warning labels to cover 50% of
cigarette pack
*Enzi #5 Double excise tax on all tobacco products; revenue to National
Cancer Institute
*Enzi #6 Ban menthol and clove as cigarette additives
*Enzi #7 Double excise tax on all tobacco products; revenue 50% to
Medicare, 25% to Medicaid and 25% to tobacco control and prevention
*Enzi #8 Double excise tax on all tobacco products; revenue to FDA
inspections
*Enzi #9 Increase fines for violations
Enzi #10 Strike Sections 903 thru 920 (i.e. pages 29-128)
*Enzi #11 Ban menthol as cigarette additive
*Enzi #12 Ban clove as cigarette additive
*Coburn #1 Includes Native American retailers and manufacturers
*Coburn #2 Limits Internet, telephone and mail order sales of tobacco
products
Burr #1 Strike provision on tobacco producers and manufacturer control -
no "FDA on the farm"
Burr #2 Change "public health" standard to "reduce youth tobacco use"
standard
Burr #3 Strike nonvoting status of manufacturer and farmer representatives
on advisory committee
Burr #4 Replaces 1996 rule with MSA advertising restrictions
Burr #5 Can't use existing FDA employees to carry out Act
Burr #6 Eliminate duplication of registration requirements (HHS and TTB)
*Burr #7 Require fines against manufacturer of most popular tobacco brands
used by youth
Burr #8 Change Section 911 standards and process on modified risk products
Burr #9 Preclude FDA actions that would increase illicit tobacco trade
Burr #10 Require states to spend CDC recommended levels for tobacco
control programs using settlement funds
Burr #11 Remove labeling and advertising restrictions, prohibit payments
for product placements and advertisements at retail, require RIP cigarettes
Burr #12 Subject 1996 and other rules to APA and Paperwork Reduction Act
Hatch #1 No effect of Act unless FDA gets sufficient funding for major
functions
Hatch #2 No effect of Act unless FDA gets sufficient funding for device
review
Hatch #3 No effect of Act unless FDA gets sufficient funding for biologics
review
Hatch #4 No effect of Act unless FDA gets sufficient funding for the
Office of Generic Drugs
Hatch #5 No effect of Act unless FDA gets sufficient funding for drug
evaluation and review
*Hatch #6 HHS certification required for all imported tobacco
Hatch #7 Standard for reduced risk products
Isakson #1 User fees only for products regulated under the Act
Isakson #2 Change distribution of user fees on industry from buyout back
to by excise tax paid
Isakson #3 Change user fees for small cigars
- - -
Mike Enzi, Ranking Member
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
For Immediate Release
Contact: Craig Orfield (202-224-6770)
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
ENZI DENOUNCES HELP COMMITTEE APPROVAL OF DEMOCRAT MARLBORO PROTECTION ACT
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Ranking Member of the
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today
denounced the HELP Committees approval of a Democrat bill he said "coddles
Big Tobaccos ambitious marketing plans while protecting the industrys best
tools to recruit and addict young smokers to inherently dangerous tobacco
products."
"Trying to make cigarettes safer through a billion-dollar bureaucracy is a
waste of time and money," Enzi said. "The right approach is to get people
to stop smoking, or better yet, never to start. Unfortunately, this bill
just doesnt do that. I believe we can do better."
"Tobacco is one of the biggest contributors to our nations growing health
care crisis. We need to fight the war on tobacco head on, not sign a peace
treaty with Philip Morris, a company that perpetuates and profits from the
crisis. Big Tobacco supports this bill because they have a stake in
maintaining the status quo. I don't. Theyre happy with a bill that doesnt
stop people from smoking; Im not. I want real change. We can and we must
do better than this bill."
The HELP Committee today approved the "Family Smoking Prevention and
Tobacco Control Act," S.625, a bill that would require the regulation of
tobacco products by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The bill would
gut the authority that Congress has bestowed and staunchly defended for the
FDA - the authority to remove health threats from the marketplace, Enzi
maintained.
"Poison peddlers shouldn't get to decide how we as responsible legislators
fight the war against their deadly products. I urge my friends in the
public health community not to become so desperate to do something about
the tobacco problem in this country that they fall for this wolf in sheeps
clothing," Enzi added. "Keep asking yourself: if this bill is good for Big
Tobacco, how can it be good for public health? The fact is, it cant. This
bill is nothing more than a Marlboro Protection Act, written to keep Philip
Morris at the top of the tobacco market."
Enzi urged his colleagues to consider legislation he introduced last week
to wipe out tobacco use in America through an innovative cap-and-trade
program that will shrink the size of the tobacco market over the next 20
years.
"Tobacco kills. We need new ideas to get people to stop smoking, or better
yet, never to start," Enzi said. "Thats what my legislation does. My bill
contains a novel cap-and-trade program that will guarantee that fewer
people suffer the deadly consequences of smoking, while providing
flexibility in how those reductions are achieved."
"Cap-and-trade programs have a proven track record in the environmental
arena, particularly in addressing acid rain. My tobacco plan is based on
the successful program in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. This
system achieved the desired results faster and at lower cost than had been
anticipated. The same can be done for tobacco," Enzi said.
The cap-and-trade program will reduce the adverse health effects of tobacco
use through reductions in the size of the US tobacco market to fewer than 2
percent of the population over 20 years. Tobacco manufacturers would be
required to meet specific user level limits by specified deadlines and the
plan would set up a market share allocation and transfer system in which
allowances could be used, banked, traded, or sold freely on the open
market.
The Enzi proposal, the "Help End Addiction to Lethal Tobacco Habits Act"
(HEALTH Act), would also close loopholes in the law that tobacco companies
have exploited and enjoyed for far too long. It would use proven
approaches to help people stop using tobacco products and implement tried
and true prevention programs.
####
Bill Godshall
From: "smokefree" <SMOKEFREE@compuserve.com>
To: "Health Advocates" <bg-announce@smokescreen.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 3:29 PM
Subject: [bg-announce]Senate HELP Cmte bans clove cigs, passes Philip Morris backed FDA bill
The U.S. Senate HELP Committee has approved S. 625, the Philip Morris
backed FDA tobacco legislation.
During today's markup session, the committee approved Senator Mike Enzi's
amendment #12 (to ban clove cigarettes), a provision that was in the
original legislation before Senator Ted Kennedy changed the bill several
weeks ago after Philip Morris announced it would begin selling Marlboro
clove cigarettes.
Amazingly, the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, American Cancer Society,
American Heart Association and American Lung Association OPPOSED Senator
Enzi's clove cigarette amendment and ALL OTHER amendments that would have
improved the public health provisions of the bill, including Senator Enzi's
amendment #4 (to require Canadian style graphic color warnings covering 50%
of cigarette packages, which the HELP Committee approved last week).
Also today, the Senate HELP Committee approved Senator Johnny Isakson's
amendment #3, Senator Richard Burr's amendments #1 and #6 (with
modifications) and Senator Kennedy's technical corrections, while rejecting
Senator Burr's amendments #2, #3, #5, #8 and #10.
Last week, the committee approved Senator Isakson's amendment #1 (in
addition to Senator Enzi's amendment #4), while rejecting Senator Orrin
Hatch's amendment #1.
It should be noted that Senator Burr's amendments #1 and #6, and Senator
Isakson's amendments #1 and #3 (all of which were approved by the
committee) will have virtually no or no negative public health impact for
the bill.
Still unresolved are Senator Enzi's amendments #8 and #9, Senator Tom
Coburn's amendments #1 and #2, Senator Hatch's amendment #6, and Senator
Burr's amendment #11, all of which are likely to be worked out and
considered on the Senate floor.
Below is a summary of the amendments that were filed to S. 625 (including
those that were not offered during committee markup), as well as Senator
Enzi's press releases criticizing today's committee approval of the Philip
Morris backed legislation, and discussing his amendment to ban clove
cigarettes.
Smokefree Pennsylvania shares Senator Enzi's concerns about S. 625,
applauds his leadership to improve the bill, and supports his alternative
HEALTH Act (S. 1834), which would reduced smoking by 90% over the
next 20 years.
Bill Godshall
Smokefree Pennsylvania
412-351-5880
- - -
Smokefree Pennsylvania endorsed 15* of the 36 amendments filed to S. 625
because each of those 15 amendments almost certainly would improve the
public health benefits of the legislation. An * precedes each public
health improvement amendment. Other amendments would have negative,
ambiguous or uncertain public health ramifications for the legislation.
S. 625
Amendment Purpose
*Enzi #1 Grant FDA authority to ban tobacco products
*Enzi #2 Grant FDA authority to reduce nicotine in tobacco products to
zero
*Enzi #3 Require product standards to conform to Data Quality Act
*Enzi #4 Require color and graphic warning labels to cover 50% of
cigarette pack
*Enzi #5 Double excise tax on all tobacco products; revenue to National
Cancer Institute
*Enzi #6 Ban menthol and clove as cigarette additives
*Enzi #7 Double excise tax on all tobacco products; revenue 50% to
Medicare, 25% to Medicaid and 25% to tobacco control and prevention
*Enzi #8 Double excise tax on all tobacco products; revenue to FDA
inspections
*Enzi #9 Increase fines for violations
Enzi #10 Strike Sections 903 thru 920 (i.e. pages 29-128)
*Enzi #11 Ban menthol as cigarette additive
*Enzi #12 Ban clove as cigarette additive
*Coburn #1 Includes Native American retailers and manufacturers
*Coburn #2 Limits Internet, telephone and mail order sales of tobacco
products
Burr #1 Strike provision on tobacco producers and manufacturer control -
no "FDA on the farm"
Burr #2 Change "public health" standard to "reduce youth tobacco use"
standard
Burr #3 Strike nonvoting status of manufacturer and farmer representatives
on advisory committee
Burr #4 Replaces 1996 rule with MSA advertising restrictions
Burr #5 Can't use existing FDA employees to carry out Act
Burr #6 Eliminate duplication of registration requirements (HHS and TTB)
*Burr #7 Require fines against manufacturer of most popular tobacco brands
used by youth
Burr #8 Change Section 911 standards and process on modified risk products
Burr #9 Preclude FDA actions that would increase illicit tobacco trade
Burr #10 Require states to spend CDC recommended levels for tobacco
control programs using settlement funds
Burr #11 Remove labeling and advertising restrictions, prohibit payments
for product placements and advertisements at retail, require RIP cigarettes
Burr #12 Subject 1996 and other rules to APA and Paperwork Reduction Act
Hatch #1 No effect of Act unless FDA gets sufficient funding for major
functions
Hatch #2 No effect of Act unless FDA gets sufficient funding for device
review
Hatch #3 No effect of Act unless FDA gets sufficient funding for biologics
review
Hatch #4 No effect of Act unless FDA gets sufficient funding for the
Office of Generic Drugs
Hatch #5 No effect of Act unless FDA gets sufficient funding for drug
evaluation and review
*Hatch #6 HHS certification required for all imported tobacco
Hatch #7 Standard for reduced risk products
Isakson #1 User fees only for products regulated under the Act
Isakson #2 Change distribution of user fees on industry from buyout back
to by excise tax paid
Isakson #3 Change user fees for small cigars
- - -
Mike Enzi, Ranking Member
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
For Immediate Release
Contact: Craig Orfield (202-224-6770)
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
ENZI DENOUNCES HELP COMMITTEE APPROVAL OF DEMOCRAT MARLBORO PROTECTION ACT
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Ranking Member of the
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today
denounced the HELP Committees approval of a Democrat bill he said "coddles
Big Tobaccos ambitious marketing plans while protecting the industrys best
tools to recruit and addict young smokers to inherently dangerous tobacco
products."
"Trying to make cigarettes safer through a billion-dollar bureaucracy is a
waste of time and money," Enzi said. "The right approach is to get people
to stop smoking, or better yet, never to start. Unfortunately, this bill
just doesnt do that. I believe we can do better."
"Tobacco is one of the biggest contributors to our nations growing health
care crisis. We need to fight the war on tobacco head on, not sign a peace
treaty with Philip Morris, a company that perpetuates and profits from the
crisis. Big Tobacco supports this bill because they have a stake in
maintaining the status quo. I don't. Theyre happy with a bill that doesnt
stop people from smoking; Im not. I want real change. We can and we must
do better than this bill."
The HELP Committee today approved the "Family Smoking Prevention and
Tobacco Control Act," S.625, a bill that would require the regulation of
tobacco products by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The bill would
gut the authority that Congress has bestowed and staunchly defended for the
FDA - the authority to remove health threats from the marketplace, Enzi
maintained.
"Poison peddlers shouldn't get to decide how we as responsible legislators
fight the war against their deadly products. I urge my friends in the
public health community not to become so desperate to do something about
the tobacco problem in this country that they fall for this wolf in sheeps
clothing," Enzi added. "Keep asking yourself: if this bill is good for Big
Tobacco, how can it be good for public health? The fact is, it cant. This
bill is nothing more than a Marlboro Protection Act, written to keep Philip
Morris at the top of the tobacco market."
Enzi urged his colleagues to consider legislation he introduced last week
to wipe out tobacco use in America through an innovative cap-and-trade
program that will shrink the size of the tobacco market over the next 20
years.
"Tobacco kills. We need new ideas to get people to stop smoking, or better
yet, never to start," Enzi said. "Thats what my legislation does. My bill
contains a novel cap-and-trade program that will guarantee that fewer
people suffer the deadly consequences of smoking, while providing
flexibility in how those reductions are achieved."
"Cap-and-trade programs have a proven track record in the environmental
arena, particularly in addressing acid rain. My tobacco plan is based on
the successful program in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. This
system achieved the desired results faster and at lower cost than had been
anticipated. The same can be done for tobacco," Enzi said.
The cap-and-trade program will reduce the adverse health effects of tobacco
use through reductions in the size of the US tobacco market to fewer than 2
percent of the population over 20 years. Tobacco manufacturers would be
required to meet specific user level limits by specified deadlines and the
plan would set up a market share allocation and transfer system in which
allowances could be used, banked, traded, or sold freely on the open
market.
The Enzi proposal, the "Help End Addiction to Lethal Tobacco Habits Act"
(HEALTH Act), would also close loopholes in the law that tobacco companies
have exploited and enjoyed for far too long. It would use proven
approaches to help people stop using tobacco products and implement tried
and true prevention programs.
####
V
vapordan
Guest
I am new to the forum.. But wanted to share a resource with you guys here because correct me if I'm wrong... but I haven't seen it any of the threads I've been reading....
The petition thing is great...some people might sign a petition but they aren't willing to take the time to actually write a letter... but what if you could give people the ability to contact their rep directly and almost instantly...
This site I ran across lets Anyone put in thier zipcode and then instantly "Email" their representatives... I for one would think this is a good tool to promote to everyone here on the forum.
I'm new to the forum... so the system won't let me post the URL.. so...
the site is at this web address ... rallycongress.com/letter2congress/698/
I wouldn't mind feedback on the thought of this as a resource too... if I'm out to lunch about bombarding senators with emails let me know..
I for one think a Strong EMAIL campaign through this service with everyone and their brother bombarding their senator might get some attention.
The petition thing is great...some people might sign a petition but they aren't willing to take the time to actually write a letter... but what if you could give people the ability to contact their rep directly and almost instantly...
This site I ran across lets Anyone put in thier zipcode and then instantly "Email" their representatives... I for one would think this is a good tool to promote to everyone here on the forum.
I'm new to the forum... so the system won't let me post the URL.. so...
the site is at this web address ... rallycongress.com/letter2congress/698/
I wouldn't mind feedback on the thought of this as a resource too... if I'm out to lunch about bombarding senators with emails let me know..
I for one think a Strong EMAIL campaign through this service with everyone and their brother bombarding their senator might get some attention.
The more ways we can get our message to our legislators, the better. Be aware, though, that some of them might use a system similar to big companies' résumé scanners, which simply search for keywords and respond automatically. Some on this forum have complained of receiving replies that were totally off-topic.
Another effective method might be faxing or mailing letters to them. I have a fax modem in my computer, so I can fax without even printing out first. In fact, if anybody would like me to fax your letter to your legislators, PM me and I'll be happy to give you my email address. All I ask is that you dig up the fax #'s yourself so that I don't have to bother.
~~Cheryl
Handy link, but let's not spam our reps or they might start ignoring us. One email per person might be plenty.
~~Cheryl
- Apr 2, 2009
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I suggest faxing letters or calling members of Congress, as they received ten thousand e-mails daily from all over the world (lots of spam too) and rarely read them (but instead they usually send an autoreply e-mail informing them that constituents should contact their local office).
- Apr 2, 2009
- 5,171
- 13,288
- 67
Every time a fax is sent to a member of Congress, the letter must be removed from the fax machine (ensuring a decent chance of being read).
Bill what specific amendments should we be seeking support for? I've formed a social group on this site for more progressive minded e-smokers with the intention of trying to get some visability of our plight from a more liberal perspective also to frame arguments that would be compelling to Democratic congresscritters since the considering the make up of the current congress seems to be the best place to focus efforts to me at least.
I think we can rely on the Republican's to resist this bill based on pure obstinance and an unwillingness to sign on for anything the Democrats push so all that would be needed to derail this thing would be to bring a couple of democrats on board with the idea of a procedural filibuster unless these amendments were added.
So what specific amendments do we need added to the Waxman bill to protect electronic-cigarettes and other harm-reduction meathods?
I see the horrible House bill was given "second reading" on Monday April 20. That tends to support Bill's understanding that Senate Majority Reid is doing an end run around the committee process to avoid hearings and potential amendments, and I take it as very bad news. I do not see it scheduled on the Senate calendar for a vote at this time. I'm not sure if it would be best (as first priority) at this point to try to encourage Senators to support:
1. A motion to refer to committee; or,
2. Amendment(s) on the floor of the full Senate; or,
3. Filibuster to prevent final passage; or,
4. Other options?
If it does show up on the calendar for a floor vote and I have no further information, I suspect I would be inclined towards a combination of #2 & #3 in sequence. A simple "no" vote on the floor for final passage would obviously be a pointless symbolic gesture, as there isn't any possibility of stopping it with the current makeup of this Congress without a filibuster.2. Amendment(s) on the floor of the full Senate; or,
3. Filibuster to prevent final passage; or,
4. Other options?
Last edited:
I am a complete newbie to e-smoking and brand new to this forum.
Can someone please tell me in a nutshell - Are e-cigarettes about to banned in the US?
Can someone please tell me in a nutshell - Are e-cigarettes about to banned in the US?
I sent my letters out and I sent one to President Obama at www dot whitehouse dot gov slash CONTACT slash. Here's my genuine story:
------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sir,
I respectfully will tell you that I have walked away from a 42-year smoking habit that I could not stop. Last year, I quit smoking six times for 20-25 days each time. Quitting is all I've thought about and dreamed about for years. I've often thought how great it would be if my hair didn't smell of smoke and my house smelled fresh...(even my dog, Rosie, smelled like an ashtray.) But, everytime I quit, my life was miserable, and I beat myself up continously for my failures. I've hidden the fact that I smoked, trying to cover up the smell with perfume, continuously chewing gum and brushing my teeth, spraying my vehicle with Lysol and even standing outside in a cold wind before I walked into my office, thinking the cold and wind would take away that smell of ashes which surrounded me. You can't imagine how terrible it is to smoke when you hate it so much. I got respiratory infections continuously and my doctor agreed that I should try an electronic cigarette, so I did. I couldn't wait to get it. As soon as I got it, I cleaned my house and my furniture...even my dog smells good now and so do I. Can you imagine what kind of threat the possibility of not being able to obtain e-cigarettes would mean to so many of us?? It makes my heart jump up in my throat. It really scares me. I stopped smoking the day I received my e-cigarette and I've never gone back. Please take a minute to think about how most smokers feel about killing themselves and not being able to stop doing it. It's anguish...and the e-cigarette has made the anguish stop for me.
Genuinely,
Karen Lidtka
------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sir,
I respectfully will tell you that I have walked away from a 42-year smoking habit that I could not stop. Last year, I quit smoking six times for 20-25 days each time. Quitting is all I've thought about and dreamed about for years. I've often thought how great it would be if my hair didn't smell of smoke and my house smelled fresh...(even my dog, Rosie, smelled like an ashtray.) But, everytime I quit, my life was miserable, and I beat myself up continously for my failures. I've hidden the fact that I smoked, trying to cover up the smell with perfume, continuously chewing gum and brushing my teeth, spraying my vehicle with Lysol and even standing outside in a cold wind before I walked into my office, thinking the cold and wind would take away that smell of ashes which surrounded me. You can't imagine how terrible it is to smoke when you hate it so much. I got respiratory infections continuously and my doctor agreed that I should try an electronic cigarette, so I did. I couldn't wait to get it. As soon as I got it, I cleaned my house and my furniture...even my dog smells good now and so do I. Can you imagine what kind of threat the possibility of not being able to obtain e-cigarettes would mean to so many of us?? It makes my heart jump up in my throat. It really scares me. I stopped smoking the day I received my e-cigarette and I've never gone back. Please take a minute to think about how most smokers feel about killing themselves and not being able to stop doing it. It's anguish...and the e-cigarette has made the anguish stop for me.
Genuinely,
Karen Lidtka
I completely empathize with Karen's story, however, my question to wether e-cigs are about to be banned wan not addressed.
Because we don't know yet. I'm not good with politics but I will explain it as best as I (sort of) understand it...
There is a bill waiting for a senate vote that were it to pass, the consequences would be that e-cigs and other smokeless tobacco products could be banned. (guess who's behind that one?)
There are amendments to that bill that, if passed, would allow smokeless tobacco products to stay 'legal'.
Sorry so simplistic, as I said, I'm not understanding it very well. Hopefully someone with a better understanding will post a better answer.
This is why we all need to email, call, fax, write, and even visit our local senators' offices to demand they support us. They won't do it if they don't feel the will of the people is behind them -- too politically risky.
Print off a copy of the petition and ask everyone you know for a signature, including non-smokers who object to the smell, risk, butts, etc. of analogs.
As I said previously, if you want to send a fax for free, just PM me -- I'll do it for you.
~~Cheryl
Last edited:
Guys,
I am from Colombia and here the e-cig is just starting to be commercialized. But I am convinced that if the FDA ban e-cig in the USA, here it will be baned as well. I have seen it happen before with a lot of things.
So I will love to try to do my part, but since I am from Colombia what can I do?
I was smoking 3 packs of analogs per day, now I can not light one! I am feeling better and better every day and my child (7 years old) that were always with a nasal congestion now can bread just great. I work from home so I was smoking always at home; I did installed air purifiers in every room and I was confident that those were "cleaning" the air. Now, I can tell you that was not true. So, vaping is not only saving my live but my child live as well.
I hate Big Farma (I think they are the ones that are pushing harder that the tobacco companies) more and more every day. Also I hate Big Tobacco!
Again, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP WITH MY $0.00001 CENT (Colobian peso is about USD 1 = COP 2300 so 2 cents of colombian peso)?
Just let me know!!
I am from Colombia and here the e-cig is just starting to be commercialized. But I am convinced that if the FDA ban e-cig in the USA, here it will be baned as well. I have seen it happen before with a lot of things.
So I will love to try to do my part, but since I am from Colombia what can I do?
I was smoking 3 packs of analogs per day, now I can not light one! I am feeling better and better every day and my child (7 years old) that were always with a nasal congestion now can bread just great. I work from home so I was smoking always at home; I did installed air purifiers in every room and I was confident that those were "cleaning" the air. Now, I can tell you that was not true. So, vaping is not only saving my live but my child live as well.
I hate Big Farma (I think they are the ones that are pushing harder that the tobacco companies) more and more every day. Also I hate Big Tobacco!
Again, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP WITH MY $0.00001 CENT (Colobian peso is about USD 1 = COP 2300 so 2 cents of colombian peso)?
Just let me know!!
Darn, I'm pretty new too, but equally as passionate as you are. I'm not sure what a foreign national could do to influence our legislative bodies, but by getting people you know to use, or at least understand, e-cigs, you will be helping by creating a climate of acceptance. Maybe not in the US -- yet -- but remember, this is a global world. How long did it take for Susan Boyle to become a household name? Bloom where you're planted, do everything you can to create acceptance where you live, and hopefully someone more savvy than me will post with perhaps some more concrete suggestions.
~~Cheryl
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