Ohio County, West Virginia to consider indoor e-cig use ban

[Placebo Effect]

You can also bring a copy of this new New York Times article about e-cigs, which features Dr. Siegel, Dr. Rodu, and Mr. Godshall

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/08/s...but-they-have-some-unlikely-critics.html?_r=1

 

[ByStander1]

Here's my exact presentation today:

Good afternoon. My name is Lorie McClung. I am a self-employed PV trainer and member of the non-profit Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association. I am not being compensated for my time or expenses by any outside organization.

I am here to beg you to remove personal vaporizers, also known as electronic cigarettes, from any smoking-related regulations. The reason is simple: Vapor is Not Smoke

It has been proposed that the definition of smoke be kept “as broad as possible.” Examples given for this broad definition were fireplaces and open pits. The definition wouldn’t have to be broadened at all to include such things – they’re smack-dab in the middle of any definition of smoke. Something’s on fire, so yes, there’s smoke.

But….is anyone really proposing that boiling cookpots and steaming cups of coffee be included in this new definition?!

How about flashlights? Based upon the dramatic response a tiny light [held up battery and pressed buttonproduced at the last meeting – sniffling, watering eyes, coughing – the ‘public nuisance’ of flashlights [held up small flashlight and flashed]demands investigation!

Or… maybe not.

Maybe common sense still has a foothold in public policy.

Common sense dictates that in our state, where every 4th person is a smoker, any incentive to not smoke never be discouraged, let alone banned.

Regardless, e-cigs do not contain tobacco, do not produce smoke.

So including vaporizers in smoking bans means coffee drinkers, that are thoughtlessly letting all of those vapors just release into the enclosed spaces where non-coffee drinkers have to breath the same air, need to “get outside with the other smokers!”

Seriously, a few months ago this board could have claimed ignorance about ecigs.
That is not the case now.
This board has been inundated with scientific studies, personal testimony, and demonstrations proving vapor is not a public health concern.

If you allow yourselves to become a Public Comfort board rather than a Public Health board
…you’re picking up speed on a very slippery slope.

 

[ByStander1]

Must mention and applaud the following:

One of the fabulous ladies that accompanied me to last month's meeting made the trip again yesterday. It's worth noting that she lives an hour from me, so for her, the trip is a full 8 hours on the road. Not only did she make an early morning, 4-hour road trip, she then spoke of her personal vaping experience!

Now this petite lady is the epitome of "Grandma," "farmer's wife," etc. If the Niceness Foundation were looking for a poster-child, she would be it. But, at the last boh meeting, she got pretty fired-up when she heard one of the speakers saying vapers needed to "get outside with the other smokers!" As I recall, she said something along the lines of, "I'd like to give her what-for..." Well, yesterday she did...

In her unassuming manner, she made no qualms about how vaping has changed her life, health, family for the better; how she had been in and out of hospitals for the past 4 years with lung related issues and now has improved lung function and has had no negative side-effects from vaping; how NRTs failed her repeatedly over the years; and how e-cigs have no place in any smoking-related regulations.

I am honored and humbled to have witnessed this amazing woman's fearfulness of doing something foolish in public, her first public speech, and then her gained confidence from "doing it anyway." Her life yesterday was truly a Beautiful Work.

Bill was great! (as always)

One wonderful thing was he took the opportunity to pass copies of the NYTimes article dated yesterday to each of the board members. No one tackled him to intercept his delivery or anything lol.

There were, however, officers in uniform at the meeting for the first time. I was told they were there "just in case" and "because you never know." Well, I don't know what they were expecting, but their services were never required. (thankfully)

For the first time since all of this began, there was talk of addressing the separate issues within the regulations on an individual basis: e-cigs, outdoor smoking, and gambling establishment smoking. Until now, it has seemed the writers of the modified regulations expected (and were receiving) an "all or none" decision. Hopefully, the new timbre of things is a positive shift.

This is not over, however, so please plan and do attend the Tuesday, December 13th meeting at noon if at all possible.

 

[Vocalek]

ByStander1, you are a valuable asset to the vaping community. You have touched, and continue to touch, a number of lives, and I am sure you are responsible for saving more than one life.

 

[Bill Godshall]

About 15-18 people spoke at the Ohio County BOH hearing yesterday (which was scheduled for two hours, but only lasted 40minutes because they only allowed speakers 2 minutes each, although I kept speaking for an additional 30 seconds or so after I was told my time was up).

About ten folks (including several from the casino) spoke out against the proposed smoking ban, three of us spoke against the proposed e-cigarette ban, and several folks spoke in support of the proposed smoking ban (with Christina Mickey from the WV Dept of Health also speaking in support of banning e-cig use purportedly because the products "haven't been proven safe").

I'm planning to attend the Dec 13 meeting (and will request to speak at the meeting as well) where the BOH is planning to vote on the proposal. I'm also planning to send the BOH another letter in the next several weeks proposing two amendments for their proposed regulation (to delete the e-cig usage ban, and to delete the smoking ban on all outdoor property owned by government and healthcare service providers).

It would be helpful if e-cig users in WV (especially those who didn't show up at the past 5 BOH meetings) would request to speak at the Dec. 13 meeting, and urge the BOH to delete the e-cig usage ban from the proposed regulation (as it's the last opportunity to talk to the BOH before they vote).

 

[ByStander1]

Vocalek, it's so very gracious for someone who does all you do to even notice my "spittin' in the ocean" efforts. Thank YOU -- in so very many ways!!!

 

[Bill Godshall]

A news clip from Tuesday's public hearing at Ohio County BOH
Supporters, opposers speak on smoking ban expansion | www.wtov9.com

And a news clip from October 11 about last month's BOH meeting
Proposed Smoking Ban Changes Spark Debate | www.wtov9.com

Unfortunately, no mention of e-cigarettes.

 

[Bill Godshall]

Tomorrow appears to be the last chance to urge the Ohio County Board of Health to reject proposed e-cigarette usage ban, as they are planning to vote tomorrow.

Anyone desiring to speak at tomorrow's meeting that begins at Noon (at least 7 people are already scheduled, including ByStander1 and me), please send a short e-mail to Howard Gamble at howard.p.gamble@wv.gov requesting to speak (letter I sent is below) tonight or tomorrow morning, and then show up at the meeting (as you will be added to the agenda to speak).

The meeting notice is at Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department and it will be held in the 2nd floor City Council room of the County Courthouse in Wheeling.

The proposed Clean Air Regulation is at http://www.ohiocountyhealth.com/uploads/10-20-11_60_WOCBOHCIARegproposedchanges11publichearing.pdf and the provision we've been urging the Board of Health to eliminate is the second sentence of the definition of "smoking" in Section 1003.

Mr. Gamble,

Per the notice at Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department, please add me to the agenda of the December
13 Board of Health meeting to briefly address the proposed Clean Air Regulation.

Bill Godshall
Executive Director
Smokefree Pennsylvania
1926 Monongahela Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15218
412-351-5880
smokefree@compuserve.com

 

[Bill Godshall]

At its meeting today, the Ohio County (WV) Board of Health unanimously voted (6-0) to table (i.e. scrap) its entire proposed Clean Air Regulation for the forseeable future (i.e. at least for a another year).

Many thanks to Lorie McClung for attending four BOH meetings and urging the board to scrap its proposed e-cigarette usage ban. Before the vote, both Lorie and I urged the BOH to delete the one sentence clause that defined "Smoking" as including the use of e-cigarettes, and I again urged the BOH to delete its proposed outdoor smoking ban on all property owned/managed by government and by health care facilities.

Interestingly, all seven speakers (at today's meeting) urged the board to scrap various provisions of the proposed regulation.

 

[DC2]

Congratulations to all Ohio County vapers, and thanks!

 

[Bill Godshall]

DC2 wrote:

Congratulations to all Ohio County vapers,

Except that during this seven month process, I'm not aware of any Ohio County vapers that spoke at any Ohio County Board of Health meetings, or that wrote to the Board of Health (urging them to reject the proposed e-cigarette usage ban).

But Lorie and I had attended and spoke out at so many Board of Health meetings, that Board members began calling us by our first names.

 

[Vocalek]

I'll bet this was a big disappointment to the woman at the last meeting who was so allergic to Lorie's battery!

 

[ByStander1]

Whew! Finally made it home! Yes, Huge Wonderful Scrapping!!!

Bill's totally right, we do seem to all be on a first-name basis now. With most of the board, it's even a pleasant one

To any vaper, anywhere: Please stay vocal -- in person. You are the only thing that makes a real difference!!!