More information here: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...attempting-pass-smoking-e-cig-indoor-ban.html
Proposed indoor use ban - Macon, GA
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Below is the letter that I just faxed to the 15 council members. The proposed ordinance was passed by the Public Safety Committee for which Virgil Watkins is the Chair and Nancy White is Vice-Chair.
April 15, 2011
Virgil Watkins, Jr.
Macon City Council Member
Macon City Council
P.O. Box 247
Macon, Georgia 31202
Re: OPPOSE THE INCLUSION OF ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES IN THE CITY OF MACON'S SMOKEFREE AIR ORDINANCE OF 2011
Dear Council Member Watkins,
I am writing to urge you to oppose the inclusion of Electronic Cigarettes, as discussed and defined in SEC. 1001 and 1002, in the City of Macon’s Smokefree Air Ordnance of 2011, an ordinance that would make the use of electronic cigarettes illegal in enclosed public places, places of employment, private clubs, enclosed residential facilities and certain outdoor areas in the city of Macon, GA.
I have been a Georgia resident for 14 years and was a smoker for 20 plus years. I tried to quit smoking numerous times, both on my own and with the aid of a few of the FDA approved methods. But none of the methods I tried worked or worked for long. I first used an electronic cigarette in July 2009 and had my last cigarette on August 16, 2009. That's right, I am 4 months shy of being smoke free for 2 years. For me, that is a major accomplishment considering that if you added up the quit time in those 20 years, it would not exceed 100 days. I always went back to smoking cigarettes.
This last year and a half has been incredible due to my choosing a healthier alternative to smoking. Thanks to electronic cigarettes, I feel better, I no longer reek of smoke, I no longer have a smoker's cough, my blood pressure has decreased, my energy level has increased, my house and vehicle smell like they should, I no longer burn holes in things, I breathe better, and my sense of both taste and smell have returned.
I say all this because it is important to me that you understand that electronic cigarettes are like conventional cigarettes in ONLY one major way....they both are effective at delivering nicotine, but that is pretty much where the similarities end. There is no combustion with an electronic cigarette, so there is no smoke and no burning of thousands of chemicals that are toxic to the body of the person inhaling (or to those breathing the air they are emitted into). A conventional cigarette has anywhere from 2000-4000 chemicals/ingredients, including nicotine. An electronic cigarette uses 3-10 chemicals/ingredients, including nicotine and emits a vapor that quickly dissipates and is virtually odorless and non irritating to third parties. Therefore, the two should not be lumped into the same category just because they both contain the word cigarette. In my opinion, as a taxpayer and a voter, to treat them in the same vein is simply unfair and a grave injustice because there is exceedingly strong evidence that electronic cigarettes are much, much safer than conventional ones both in a physical sense as well as an environmental one. The electronic cigarette is more analogous to nicorette gum or lozenges or the patch. Though not marketed as such, electronic cigarettes have proved (through me and thousands of others), to be more successful than the FDA approved smoking cessation products.
Are you aware that a credible study, conducted by Dr. Murray Laugesen and Health New Zealand Ltd., actually tested vapor from electronic cigarettes? The research found that the toxic emissions score was zero for electronic cigarettes, whereas it was no lower than 100 for any brand of conventional cigarette tested, with the score being based upon the levels of 59 priority toxicants.
Are you aware that the Hon. Judge Richard J. Leon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted an injunction against FDA seizures of e‐cigarette imports. Judge Leon stated that the FDA had failed to produce any evidence that the products have harmed anyone. On appeal by the FDA, the U.S. District Court of Appeals stated that the FDA may regulate e‐cigarettes under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, but not as drugs or devices under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act.
So to me, including electronic cigarettes in your smoking ban simply makes no sense because the harm you seek to prevent is simply not presented by anyone using it. I appreciate that there is no combustion, secondhand smoke, flame, ash, or litter with e-cigarettes. Do you?
In sum, I thank you for listening and allowing me to voice my feelings. I am going to try to make it to Macon to make an appearance at the public hearing scheduled for April 19, 2011 at 6:00 pm. However, in the event I don’t make it, I wanted to make sure that my voice was heard. Therefore, all I ask is that you please carefully consider all sides of this important issue before casting your vote for something that will have such a profound impact on people's lives.
Sincerely
Kimberly
This type of ban is spreading in GA and is being imposed on both indoor and outdoor areas. Anyone else going to try and go to the hearing?
April 15, 2011
Virgil Watkins, Jr.
Macon City Council Member
Macon City Council
P.O. Box 247
Macon, Georgia 31202
Re: OPPOSE THE INCLUSION OF ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES IN THE CITY OF MACON'S SMOKEFREE AIR ORDINANCE OF 2011
Dear Council Member Watkins,
I am writing to urge you to oppose the inclusion of Electronic Cigarettes, as discussed and defined in SEC. 1001 and 1002, in the City of Macon’s Smokefree Air Ordnance of 2011, an ordinance that would make the use of electronic cigarettes illegal in enclosed public places, places of employment, private clubs, enclosed residential facilities and certain outdoor areas in the city of Macon, GA.
I have been a Georgia resident for 14 years and was a smoker for 20 plus years. I tried to quit smoking numerous times, both on my own and with the aid of a few of the FDA approved methods. But none of the methods I tried worked or worked for long. I first used an electronic cigarette in July 2009 and had my last cigarette on August 16, 2009. That's right, I am 4 months shy of being smoke free for 2 years. For me, that is a major accomplishment considering that if you added up the quit time in those 20 years, it would not exceed 100 days. I always went back to smoking cigarettes.
This last year and a half has been incredible due to my choosing a healthier alternative to smoking. Thanks to electronic cigarettes, I feel better, I no longer reek of smoke, I no longer have a smoker's cough, my blood pressure has decreased, my energy level has increased, my house and vehicle smell like they should, I no longer burn holes in things, I breathe better, and my sense of both taste and smell have returned.
I say all this because it is important to me that you understand that electronic cigarettes are like conventional cigarettes in ONLY one major way....they both are effective at delivering nicotine, but that is pretty much where the similarities end. There is no combustion with an electronic cigarette, so there is no smoke and no burning of thousands of chemicals that are toxic to the body of the person inhaling (or to those breathing the air they are emitted into). A conventional cigarette has anywhere from 2000-4000 chemicals/ingredients, including nicotine. An electronic cigarette uses 3-10 chemicals/ingredients, including nicotine and emits a vapor that quickly dissipates and is virtually odorless and non irritating to third parties. Therefore, the two should not be lumped into the same category just because they both contain the word cigarette. In my opinion, as a taxpayer and a voter, to treat them in the same vein is simply unfair and a grave injustice because there is exceedingly strong evidence that electronic cigarettes are much, much safer than conventional ones both in a physical sense as well as an environmental one. The electronic cigarette is more analogous to nicorette gum or lozenges or the patch. Though not marketed as such, electronic cigarettes have proved (through me and thousands of others), to be more successful than the FDA approved smoking cessation products.
Are you aware that a credible study, conducted by Dr. Murray Laugesen and Health New Zealand Ltd., actually tested vapor from electronic cigarettes? The research found that the toxic emissions score was zero for electronic cigarettes, whereas it was no lower than 100 for any brand of conventional cigarette tested, with the score being based upon the levels of 59 priority toxicants.
Are you aware that the Hon. Judge Richard J. Leon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted an injunction against FDA seizures of e‐cigarette imports. Judge Leon stated that the FDA had failed to produce any evidence that the products have harmed anyone. On appeal by the FDA, the U.S. District Court of Appeals stated that the FDA may regulate e‐cigarettes under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, but not as drugs or devices under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act.
So to me, including electronic cigarettes in your smoking ban simply makes no sense because the harm you seek to prevent is simply not presented by anyone using it. I appreciate that there is no combustion, secondhand smoke, flame, ash, or litter with e-cigarettes. Do you?
In sum, I thank you for listening and allowing me to voice my feelings. I am going to try to make it to Macon to make an appearance at the public hearing scheduled for April 19, 2011 at 6:00 pm. However, in the event I don’t make it, I wanted to make sure that my voice was heard. Therefore, all I ask is that you please carefully consider all sides of this important issue before casting your vote for something that will have such a profound impact on people's lives.
Sincerely
Kimberly
This type of ban is spreading in GA and is being imposed on both indoor and outdoor areas. Anyone else going to try and go to the hearing?
I second sacredgaming
Were you able to make it to the meeting??
Thanks guys!
beingbekah and I were all geared up to go, but we were called off because the "word" was that the smoking ban was not going to be on the agenda for Tuesday. bekah and I wound up just hanging out since we had already earmarked the time. Lo and behold, we find out the next day that the Macon City Council pulled a fast one....I call shenanigans!
Not only did they hear it, but they voted on it and it passed. See post 16 and 18 of the below referenced thread.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...tempting-pass-smoking-e-cig-indoor-ban-2.html
The mayor vetoed the bill. Score one for the good guys!
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ass-smoking-e-cig-indoor-ban.html#post3105825
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ass-smoking-e-cig-indoor-ban.html#post3105825
If you want to help stop an indoor use ban that Georgia is currently threatened with, please consider requesting time off from work so that you can testify in DeKalb County, Georgia on Tuesday, June 14th at 9 AM. Like in Macon, the bill before the DeKalb Board of Commissioners is also a smoking ban that illogically includes e-cigarettes.
CASAA Call to Action page
Bibb County is considering introducing a smoking ban ordinance. This article also says that Macon is likely to bring theirs up again.
Bibb commissioners considering smoking ban with Macon - Breaking News - Macon.com
Bibb commissioners considering smoking ban with Macon - Breaking News - Macon.com
Macon will have a hearing on a new smoke-free ordinance, and I bet it still includes e-cigarettes.
Smoking law proposal to be aired Thursday - Local & State - Macon.com
Please consider attending today at 5:30 PM in Macon.
Smoking law proposal to be aired Thursday - Local & State - Macon.com
Please consider attending today at 5:30 PM in Macon.
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