As an ECF member since 2010, and one who's been absent for a couple of years ... I wanted to come back and make sure that I submitted my comments and luckily I just got in the door. Just in time. Barely. Commenting here again reminds me of all of the beautiful people that I met years ago and how they truly restored my faith in humanity. Generosity and support of the likes I'd never seen before. You know who you are.
Without further ado, here is a copy of my submission. It was the best I could do under short notice. I didn't even know the details of what was happening until today. Thank you ECF, all the members and admins!
Comment Tracking Number: 1jy-8dou-6fpn (will also be forwarded to CASAA)
To the FDA: Regarding regulations proposed by the FDA in regards to electronic cigarettes.
Please allow electronic cigarettes to be sold in their present form as they are the gift of life for those, like myself, that cannot quit smoking and have been addicted to cigarettes by the tobacco companies.
My personal story is short but is an appropriate example in these dangerous times that may change regulations that are helping Americans.
In 2010 I bought my first electronic cigarette fueled by a huge desire to quit smoking as it was affecting my health. I drove 20 miles to purchase the ecig kit and after trying my first ecig, for the first time in 22 years I drove a car without smoking a tobacco cigarette. 4 years later, completely smoke free and many regular medical check ups afterwards, I can now breathe better and function better in all aspects of my life, thanks to the usage of electronic cigarettes.
Cigarette addiction is a very serious fact and a tremendous burden on our health care system. Ecigs allow a user to taper down on the nicotine intake to an eventual zero and succeeds where nicotine patches and other forms of quitting have failed. With ecigs, one truly can stop smoking and having a choice of flavors is the key to being able to quit smoking and have an alternative. Once the correct flavor is found, the desire to smoke a real tobacco cigarette will go away (hence why a large choice of flavors exist and need to always be available).
This is the most revolutionary product any smoker alive has ever experienced. It has been the gift of life for me and millions of others.The health benefits cannot be denied when one can breathe again and one becomes active again. Testimony after testimony supports this.
If a life saving product like this becomes illegal it would be the cruelest injustice that can be done to any human being that has for years, even decades, tried to quit smoking or have an alternative to smoking unsuccessfully. I stand in favor of electronic cigarettes and I wish the United States government could show some understanding and compassion.
John Reagan