What Mr. Nocera missed in his otherwise perceptive article is that the predictions of E-cig/vapor overtaking deadly combustibles relies to a large extent on this innovative, disruptive, miraculous "industry" being allowed to flourish and grow innovatively — or will it be strangled in its crib by corrupt and agenda-driven manipulation and "regulation." He perhaps should have noted that the "public health" groups massed in opposition to E-cigs have no scientific nor medical basis for their phony alarms about "toxic chemicals" and other myths they promulgate, led by the CDC and FDA. Academic centers and nonprofits (AHA ALA Am.Cancer Soc et al) are in the pocket of Big Pharma--it would astound anyone to learn how much financial support the marketers of nearly-useless patches gums and drugs donate to these nonprofits, who by the way never disclose this "pay for play" interaction while they travel round the country testifying before panels to ban and "regulate" likely-harmless E-cigs; the politicians they plead their case before have already made up their minds as well, given that their budgets depend on cigarette excise taxes and MSA transfer payments. The losers? Smokers trying to quit and public health. What a bizarre, perverse situation. Gil Ross MD/ACSH
