Just received this:
A bill has been introduced into the Utah State Legislature which would add the use of electronic cigarettes to the definition of smoking. It has passed the full House of Representatives and is now in the Utah Senate.
If you have customers in Utah, would you urge them to contact their state senators as soon as possible asking them to vote against HB 245 - AMENDMENT TO DEFINITION OF SMOKING IN UTAH, or, in the alternative to amend the bill to remove all mention of electronic cigarettes. Link to text of Utah HB245
http://le.utah.gov/~2012/bills/hbillint/hb0245s03.pdf
Here is a link to the Utah State Senate list of members that displays their mailing addresses and phone numbers.
Utah State Senate
What to say:
1. You oppose the inclusion of electronic cigarettes in HB 245 S3.
2. Tell your story on how switching to an e-cigarette or smokeless tobacco has changed your life.
3. Explain how electronic cigarette use is easy to distinguish from actual smoking. Although some e-cigarettes resemble real cigarettes, many do not. It is easy to tell when someone lights a cigarette, from the smell of smoke. E-cigarette vapor is practically odorless, and generally any detectable odor is not unpleasant and smells nothing like smoke.
4. Let them know that vapor does not behave in the same manner as smoke. There is no "side stream" vapor like the side stream smoke coming from the lit end of a cigarette. There is also no ash or litter. With so little evidence of use, enforcing indoor use bans on electronic cigarettes would be nearly impossible.
5. Inform them that the ability to use electronic cigarettes in public spaces will actually improve public health by inspiring other smokers to switch. Surveys of thousands of users indicate that the majority of those who switch, completely replace tobacco cigarettes with the electronic cigarettes, reducing their health risks by 98-99%.
6. Tell them that by switching to a smokeless product, you have greatly reduced your health risks.
7. Direct them to the CASAA.org website for more information.
Personal visits, US Mail, and phone calls are more effective than emails. However, for those who wish to send emails:
Contact information:
Semi-colon separated email list:
surquhart@le.utah.gov;
coanderson@le.utah.gov;
dhinkins@le.utah.gov;
kvantassell@le.utah.gov;
lhillyard@le.utah.gov;
rokerlund@le.utah.gov;
tweiler@le.utah.gov;
jsadams@le.utah.gov;
jwstevenson@le.utah.gov;
sjenkins@le.utah.gov;
achristensen@le.utah.gov;
screid@le.utah.gov;
pknudson@le.utah.gov;
curt@cbramble.com;
mdayton@le.utah.gov;
jvalentine@le.utah.gov;
mmadsen@le.utah.gov;
dthatcher@le.utah.gov;
hstephenson@le.utah.gov;
aosmond@le.utah.gov;
wniederhauser@le.utah.gov;
kmorgan@le.utah.gov;
rromero@le.utah.gov;
waddoups@le.utah.gov;
kmayne@le.utah.gov;
pjones@le.utah.gov;
gdavis@le.utah.gov;
bmcadams@le.utah.gov;
lrobles@le.utah.gov
Comma separated email list:
surquhart@le.utah.gov,
coanderson@le.utah.gov,
dhinkins@le.utah.gov,
kvantassell@le.utah.gov,
lhillyard@le.utah.gov,
rokerlund@le.utah.gov,
tweiler@le.utah.gov,
jsadams@le.utah.gov,
jwstevenson@le.utah.gov,
sjenkins@le.utah.gov,
achristensen@le.utah.gov,
screid@le.utah.gov,
pknudson@le.utah.gov,
curt@cbramble.com,
mdayton@le.utah.gov,
jvalentine@le.utah.gov,
mmadsen@le.utah.gov,
dthatcher@le.utah.gov,
hstephenson@le.utah.gov,
aosmond@le.utah.gov,
wniederhauser@le.utah.gov,
kmorgan@le.utah.gov,
rromero@le.utah.gov,
waddoups@le.utah.gov,
kmayne@le.utah.gov,
pjones@le.utah.gov,
gdavis@le.utah.gov,
bmcadams@le.utah.gov,
lrobles@le.utah.gov
Link to CASAA’s Call to Action page:
CASAA.org
Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
Cordially,
Elaine Keller, President
The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association
(202) 241-9117
But it works for me, and after 30+ years of usually 2 pad of Camels, I am not changing a thing.
