Proposed Law Endangers Health of Former Smokers - New York State

[Vocalek]

Please Tweet this story and Share on Facebook today. The New York Assembly Health Committee meets to discuss this proposed law tomorrow, Tuesday January 25.

Proposed Law Endangers Health of Former Smokers



Contact the NYS Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard N. Gottfried, asking him to withdraw the bill or to remove Section 2 from A01468 in its entirety, so that the sales ban is limited to minors. Office phone is 518-455-4941.



Fax your message: Gottfried’s fax number is 518-455-5939.

 

[ShannonS]

I put it on my facebook page. Hopefully my vaping friends will see it and pass it along.

 

[ScottB]

I just got off the phone with Mr. Gottfried's receptionist.

First, she confirmed receipt of my fax.

Second, I could not speak with Mr. Gottfried as he "and the entire staff" is in a meeting as I type.

Third, I asked if she knew exactly what the bill effort is based on. She said that Liz is the staff person who's on point for this particular issue. I left my phone number and a request that she call me directly to discuss same. We'll see...

Finally, I asked if there was any significant fax or phone traffic in their office so far today and she replied that they're "getting some calls & a very few faxes..." This needs to change! Let's ramp it up people! It took five minutes to create a faxable letter and another 4 minutes on the phone (and hopefully another 5 or 10 minutes should Liz actually call me back).

No excuses. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

edit: I cross posted into the General Forum. Let's try to overwhelm them...

 

[Brutus Buckeye]

I faxed and emailed everyone on the list this morning and just posted this to my facebook as well!

 

[Vocalek]

Many thanks to Michele of Great Neck NY for her generous donation today to CASAA. Michele, if you are reading this, would you please consider also joining CASAA as an official member. We would love to keep you up-to-date via email on what is happening in your area (such as this proposed ban on e-cigarette sales). You did not leave an email address when you donated.

To sign as a new member, go here:

CASAA | Member Signup

Attention current CASAA members. If you have not already done so, please update your profile to provide your City and State. This will assist us in focusing attention to those areas affected by proposed bans.

You can go to the bottom of the Member Sign Up Form (link above) and on this text, click the word "here".

If you already have an account, login here.

It links to the Login page, where you enter your CASAA user name and password.

 

[Vocalek]

Picked up in this story: New York May Be First State To Ban E-Cigs - Gothamist

 

[SmokingFirefighter]

Well, I'm trying to do something!
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/e-cigarette-news/154911-ny-state-ban-bill-3.html#post2537316

 

[Vocalek]

Well, I'm trying to do something!
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/e-cigarette-news/154911-ny-state-ban-bill-3.html#post2537316

Super! Thanks to all who have contacted members of the media. This is huge!

 

[Phreaker]

You can fax for free right from your desktop (if you don't have access to a fax), do it!! Truly Free Internet Faxing

or

http://www.gotfreefax.com/

Great press release CASAA, thank you!

 

[Vocalek]

The press release got picked up here: Proposed Law Endangers Health of Former Smokers

 

[Bustastew]

Great =p. Im at work but every chance I get I am checking for the results of this gathering of evil in NY!

 

[n2xe]

It passed. Now it goes to the state assembly.

 

[Sewknitty]

Damn. How in the world did that pass?? I don't get the push against it...I can't believe it. Well, we still have a chance. Let's keep calling and writing!

 

[SmokingFirefighter]

Super! Thanks to all who have contacted members of the media. This is huge!

I posted a link to a podcast of the show here:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/e-cigarette-news/154911-ny-state-ban-bill-4.html#post2543505

 

[yvilla]

CBS coverage here:

New York Bill In Albany Would Ban 'E-Cigarettes' Until Further Action From The FDA; Lawmakers Say More Information NecessaryCBS New York

My comment, awaiting moderation:

Linda Rosenthal reminds me of a spoiled child who sticks her fingers in her ears, screws her eyes closed, and shakes her head wildly, utterly refusing to listen. I know that she has been personally handed and mailed reams of scientific articles, lab reports, and expert opinions over the past year, all attesting to the relative safety of e-cigs, and the huge potential they have for improving public health through increased use by addicted smokers who switch to them. Yet she still claims their composition is "a mystery".

Furthermore, she specifically disregarded a letter sent to all the Assembly Health Committee members before this vote took place by Dr. Michael Siegel, author of an article on e-cigs just published in the December issue of the Journal of Public Health Policy.

Dr. Siegel informed committee members that the purported justifications for the sales ban as laid out in the bill's memo were indeed factually inaccurate, and warned them that "passage of Assembly Bill A01468 would force thousands of ex-smokers in New York State to return to cigarette smoking by taking electronic cigarettes off the market in the state. In addition, it would prevent current smokers who want to quit from successfully quitting smoking using the most effective method currently available - vaping - thus causing immense damage to the public's health".

Great job Linda!

 

[rothenbj]

"Dr. Siegel informed committee members that the purported justifications for the sales ban as laid out in the bill's memo were indeed factually inaccurate, and warned them that "passage of Assembly Bill A01468 would force thousands of ex-smokers in New York State to return to cigarette smoking by taking electronic cigarettes off the market in the state. In addition, it would prevent current smokers who want to quit from successfully quitting smoking using the most effective method currently available - vaping - thus causing immense damage to the public's health"."

Perhaps those two thoughts override public health in a state that cannot afford to lose such a valuable revenue stream.