URGENT - Call to Action!!!!

[Imagine]

Please take the time to express your feelings to the FDA. Do not let them limit the amount of your nictone to extremely low levels... Take away your flavors.... and limit you from a legal adult substance that has been sold since the first settlers came to America... Nicotine.

Stop thier incorrect propaganda and make sure they listen to the people.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...tes-your-action-needed-now-2.html#post8204162

 

[trichman]

Comment Posted!

 

[HughDaHand]

Submitting

Electronically: Regulations.gov - Choose the "Comment Now!" button at the top.

Maybe I am a little out of it today or something but it seems they removed this Comment now button. Maybe I should check again after some more coffee.

 

[HughDaHand]

Oh looks like they stopped taking comments on this at 11:59pm eastern on Jan 2. That would explain why I couldn't find the link. Hopefully they got a ton from others here.

 

[Renolizzie]

I managed to get a comment in but who knows if they will read it!

 

[SteveI]

I read the link, but unfortunately do not have the time atm to respond. Tonight, when I can focus, I will definitely attach a file. I hope being very long will not be a detriment. I am a HUGE proponent, and a living example of the benefits ecigs offers. I honestly believe that this is the biggest and best thing for smokers out there, which is an immediate deadly threat to pharmacuticals, the anti smoking lobby, cigaretter manufacturers, and the government tax collectors. While hopeless, I will not go down without a fight.

EDIT:
I realize this is OT, but I just thought... Why isn't the ecig lobby trying to get the anti-smoking lobby on our side? We have absolutely no allies. Every involved group is dead set against us, except for the AMA which is sitting on the fence.

 

[SteveI]

No chance in heck of me keeping it to 2000...

In case you are bored:


Dear sirs,
I am a very concerned citizen with a personal interest. I have been a pack a day a smoker for 26 years, and during that time attempted to quit numerous times. This includes but is not limited to:
- cold turkey
- zyban
- nicotine inhaler
- patch

While I do not have any major health issues at this time, I have come to appreciate the health benefits of quitting smoking. Unfortunately, all of my previous attempts to quit smoking have failed. I have never been able to quit for more than 2 weeks due to side effects, which included:

- vivid nightmares
- serious anxiety and
- panic attacks

When a coworker showed me a disposable electronic cigarette (ecigarette or ecig), I decided to give it a shot. While these devices do not promise to help quit smoking, I tried it. I imediately felt a glimmer of hope that it could succeed. From that first disposable, I quickly discovered a market and upgraded to more effective brands. The real value to smokers is by mimicing many of behavioral traits of smoking a cigarette, the nicotine urge is met, as well as all other psychological habits.

To date, I have not had a cigarette in over 2 months, and feel a high level of confidence that as long as ecigarettes are available, that I will not smoke another cigarette again. With my new found interest, I searched for information on the health effects of electronic cigarettes. I was dismayed by the criticism of non-smoking groups, and legal actions taken by some local and state governments. While the electronic cigarette may appear from a distance like smoking, it does not have the same negative impact to non-smokers or to the ecig consumer. It appears that much of the negativity is based on the false conclusions drawn from the physical appearance alone.

I have found through my research no evidence of any kind that suggest any ill health effects of using ecigs. While in one test, trace amounts of a carcinogen may have been found, the level is so low that any objective study would note it in passing, and state it is at levels safe for consumption. Even poisons and other contaminents are regularly found in foods that are deemed acceptable levels, and approved by the FDA. However, it appears that the study was not scientific, with a predisposition to provide negative press. Even now, I believe the FDA web site refers to the same study to regarding the "contaminent". Because contaminents are always a possiblity, the fluid for e-cigarettes could be treated as a food product, with the same requirements for listing ingredients in the label. Any more would be paramount to a witch hunt.

Another fear among non-smokers is the promotion of flavors that might appeal to children. This is akin to fruit flavored alcohol. I believe firmly that this product should not be available to children, and sales should be limited to adults only.

Taxation & Cost. First, the public justification of punitive taxation on cigarettes has always been for the health of the public, and the inferred cost of treating smoking related illnesses. If ecigs are successful, there will be a significant drop in tobacco related tax revenues, and medical costs. However, this is supposed to be a good thing, and the punitive tax by definition will be succeeding. Also, levying tobacco like taxes on ecigs is counter productive to the cause of having people quit smoking. Many people are looking to ecigs, not only for health, but because they cannot afford traditional cigarettes. Also, the market is made of primarily many many small US businesses. This creates competition and innovation not seen since the technology boom of the 90's. Regulation and taxation in this industry will effectively kill this dynamic industry, reducing it to a handful of large corporations with an oligopoly. Ideally, for the sake of public health, I believe ecigs should be subsidized.

In reality, the FDA should define the fluid as a food product (for sale to adults), and regulate accordingly. I believe that is sufficient regulation to promote the health of the public. The device itself should merely be defined as an electronic device, and again, regulated accordingly.

The subsidy I mention above should not be given to any company, but rather to fund independent research to investigate the health effects of ecig use versus smoking, and second hand smoke versus second hand vapor. The results would undoubtably further encourage the public to quit smoking.

I have always been sensitive to non-smokers around me. I have found that ecigs do not leave an odor, and there are no harmful ingredients to harm myself or others around me. The only negative reactions have been from total ignorance, from people who become verbally abusive at the sight of what appears to be cigarette smoke.

The bottom line is that the ecig is a more effective sessation device than all of the "approved" methods marketed by the multibillion dollar pharmaceutical industry combined. In addition, it is far healthier than most of the methods that have been approved without the serious side effects. I have experienced it personally. Given proper independent research, the evidence will be clear to all.

Sincerely,
A very concerned former smoker.

 

[Moonstruck]

Forgot to post here yesterday, but yes, I posted my comment.

 

[ThreadKiller]

Comment button is working again at Regulations.gov.
There was an issue, but it's been taken care of. I urge everyone who can to send their story in and be heard. It might not be you specifically that they "hear", but in numbers we can give a big message.

 

[ThreadKiller]

Just for the heck of it, here's what I sent. You don't have to be a scientist, chemist or expert on E-Cigs. I'm not. But, you can share your story.

To Whom This May Pertain,

I had been a smoker for thirty years, from the time I was 18 years old.

Major health concerns that I had from smoking were:
Shortness of breath. I could not climb a flight of stairs without being
winded.
Couldn't sleep a full night, waking at intervals, usually with
trouble breathing. At times I woke up fully believing I was having a
heart-attack.

As these symptoms persisted, I tried different cessation products and measures.

Quitting cold-turkey did not work. My cravings were too strong and my
irritability increased markedly. I was not a nice person to be around anymore.

Nicotine patches did not alleviate my urge to smoke. I found myself wearing a
patch while puffing on a cigarette. Having heard of the increased heart-attack
risk of this, I gave up on the patches.

Chantix gave me vivid dreams and some mild depression, though it did work.
However, I also found that I was becoming obese, increasing my waist four sizes
in less than two months. I was trading one major health risk for another. What
was the point of that? I soon went back to smoking.

After having resigned myself to smoking for the remainder of my life, one my
children sent me a link to an electronic cigarette seller last year. My kids
were afraid for my health. I tried electronic cigarettes (E-Cigs) more out of
curiousity than any hope that it would help me.

What I found, however, was that using the E-Cigs kept my cravings at bay and I
did not need or want a regular cigarette any longer. What started out as a
lark had become my solution.

I can now run up a flight of stairs without issue. I sleep through the night
without waking up all the time. Those respiratory issues (that made me think I
was having a heart-attack) are gone and have been gone for the 10 months that I
have been a non-smoker. I see no need or desire to go back to smoking. The
thought of it is unpleasant, to say the least.

I went from using pre-filled cartomizers to doing it myself (DIY). After
researching, I found I could not only save money by doing this, I could know
and control exactly what I was inhaling and how much nicotine and other
chemicals I was using. I use three ingredients: Propyl glycol, a nicotine
solution (containing nicotine in a solution of either propyl glycol or vegetable
glycerine) and artificial flavoring. I know what is in all of those chemicals
(and other common products that use these chemicals) and I control how much I
use. I could not say the same for tobacco (with its hundreds of chemicals, many
of which are known carcinogens) nor for the patches or Chantix.

I am not knocking either Chantix or patches. They have worked for some people
and if it gets them off of cigarettes, then I'm all for it. However, those
products do not work for all. E-cigs do not work for all either. The
important thing is that we who used to smoke (or still do) have a choice
in how to quit. I'm sure that other testimonials you have read mentioned the
fact that, having control of the nicotine content of their E-Cigs, it is easy
for them to decrease the dosage and eventually quit altogether.

Bottom line is that if I did not have access to E-Cigs, I would still be
smoking regular cigarettes. I would still be spewing tobacco smoke into the
air for others to breathe, smelling bad, and decreasing my life expectancy (and
quality of life) by years. Not to mention that I would still be stuck with the
health concerns I raised earlier.

I fully believe that I have the opportunity to live a longer and have a better
life because E-Cigs were easily available to me. I urge you to continue to
allow that availability so that thousands other smokers in this country can
discover this for themselves.

Sincerely,

 

[Tail11]

I uploaded mine a few days ago:

My name is Ajay. I am a 50 year old woman and I have smoked a pack and a half of cigarettes since I was 13. I have smoked for over 31 years until I found e-cigarettes. I have tried to quit numerous times using nicorette, patches, a computer to tell me when I could smoke, chewing gum, and lollypops.

I was able to quit once via cold turkey for over five years. I was obsessed with thoughts of smoking for the first six months. It took almost 8 months to finally get a decent night’s sleep. I was waking up in the middle of the night and had terrible nightmares. I was extremely irritable and withdrew from my smoking friends and society in general. It took close to a year before I reinserted myself into public and was able to visit with friends and family. I knew if I smoked just one cigarette, I’d be right back to buying cartons because cigarettes have a power over me and makes my mind weak. I switched over completely to e-cigarettes almost one month ago. I’ve not experienced many sleeping or irritability issues as I did with NRT/Cold turkey methods. I did use one packet a day of SNUS to help me in the morning for one week to ensure I’d not have any withdraw symptoms. I did not experience the horrible withdraw symptoms like I had when I used the patch, gum, or cold turkey. I did not have to hide away from my friends and families, concerned that I might explode in nicotine withdraw fury because of the yearning for a cigarette. I am completely unaffected by quitting cigarettes while using my e-cigarette now, only a month into vaping. I’ve told myself that “I’m just switching brands,” and this analogy has worked. I am able to breathe better and my sinuses are clearing up. My allergist even said that at my checkup, only a week after I started vaping that he could see a great difference in my health. I do not require daily antihistamines for my allergies as those have subsided. I also don’t have the quitters mind fog that is associated with smoking cessation - I am able to concentrate at work.

The FDA should not set time limits on the sale of and/or reduce the nicotine in NRTs including e-juice. There is no set time limit on cigarettes, so why would there be a time limit set on NRT and other aids to help smokers quit? The FDA should consider increasing the amount of nicotine that is in NRT already. There never seemed to be enough nicotine in those patches and gum to satisfy my cravings. One piece of gum became 3 at a time for me then I’d have to suffer with mouth sores. The price alone of NRT made me go back to cigarettes. Why spend so much money on useless devices when I can spend the same amount or less on cigarettes? I’ve known several people that smoked while wearing the patch and chewing the gum at the same time, even though they were aware of the potential health risks. They said they needed the extra nicotine to make their cravings subside. They eventually went back to cigarettes, feeling like failures. The FDA would serve the public justice if it spent time researching why the approved low dosage NRT’s are not very effective.

Today, by using my personal vaping device, I can regulate my e-juice with a variety of nicotine percentages that are available from the vendors. I like to have that control and I enjoy using my e-cigarette with different flavors and not have to resort to a tobacco flavored juice if I choose. I have been able to step my nicotine use down, less than one month after exclusively using e-cigarettes. Candy flavored e-juices give me a variety of tastes and don’t remind me of smoking whatsoever. In a usual day, I’m vaping at least 3-4 different flavors. The vapor emitted doesn’t have a foul odor like cigarettes to it and doesn’t offend anyone I’ve encountered. I’ve actually lost weight because I have the hand to mouth action as if I were smoking. I do not think about smoking cigarettes as I did in my previous quits, and it is a distant memory for me while I’m vaping. My first thought of the morning is not on cigarettes. I have found my ultimate way to overcome the rule of cigarettes had over me.

I ask that you do not ban or set nicotine regulations on e-cigarettes and e-juices because this device has allowed me and a lot of other fellow vapers to get off of cigarettes without major withdrawal symptoms that we’ve experienced in the past with approved NRT. I also ask you to remove your statements that states e-cigarettes cause cancer and have dangerous carcinogens and other misleading messages. Americans should not be scared by the FDA about the use of e-cigarettes when it’s really a last resort for a lot of smokers wishing to finally quit smoking successfully. The FDA should welcome any product that has been shown to be safe and will actually help people rather than wasting their money on useless products that are on the shelves today. Failure is a terrible thing, and for a smoker to fail their quit and end up back on cigarettes should be the main concern about the current approved NRT products on the market. There are many vapers in the world today that have successfully quit smoking by using e-cigarettes and I am one of them.

The bedrock of the FDA is to “Protect and Promoting Your Health”. The FDA would promote our health by seeing e-cigarettes as an innovated and useful product for the American public. Today’s health costs are skyrocketing. I’m sure one of the contributors for those costs are for the care of people with smoking related health issues. I would think the FDA and health care industry would welcome e-cigarettes that actually help smokers quit cigarettes for good and improve their health. Therefore, reducing the amount of doctor visits and the use of pharmaceuticals would help reduce the overall health costs facing Americans today. The FDA was created to work for the American public, not big tobacco and pharmaceutical companies.

Thank you for your time and consideration to help American smokers that have finally found a way to stop smoking cigarettes by using a safer and productive product of e-cigarettes and SNUS.

 

[Imagine]

please get your letters in ...3 days left! Let your voice be heard! Don't let the FDA limit your options and choices!

Could you have made the switch with nicotine of only 3mg? Well that may happen if you do not act now and help the current smokers and vapers!

 

[JoAnnW]

Submitted my comment too. We can't just sit back and do nothing, then if the hits the fan... complain and panic about it. This is the time to take action. Hopefully all ECF forum members will respond to be heard.

 

[Butch]

Here is my comment, short but to the point.
I am 65 years old. I smoked for 56 of those years. I tried to quit many times with many other supplements, drugs , Nicorette gum, patches, clod turkey, candy & any other way that I thought might work. I don't know how many times I tried but there were many.
The only thing that worked was the ecig. If you are going to regulate it then take a very close look at the industry as it is set up now, & try to make as few changes as possible.
You say that public health is your goal, how you act on this will tell if that is really true, or if you just want to control the lives of others.

 

[Imagine]

important bump

 

[abracadebra]

sorry but what I read its all over now...buy up big...get to learn how to diy...hope the pendulum swings our way one day...sounds like its over to me.that guy had me in tears...i know he meant well...but he said its a done deal...

 

[Imagine]

what article are you reffering to?

sorry but what I read its all over now...buy up big...get to learn how to diy...hope the pendulum swings our way one day...sounds like its over to me.that guy had me in tears...i know he meant well...but he said its a done deal...

 

[abracadebra]

on the fda talk...on page 12...

 

[Imagine]

Hmm not exactly sure what you are referring to ...the FDA are scheduled to make their announcements this spring.

 

[Yokymo]

When this first arose I posted my comment. As a former smoker and even a light vapor, i am very concerned that if the FDA does anything how much it will harm others.

"I went on to explain to them how vaping contains less of the chemicals then cigs, how vaping can save lives, how the choices are what allows people to stay away from cigs, and how concerned I was as a former smoker for my friends and family that made the switch or still smoke now. " (Of course i went into some detail but this is the jist of what i told them)

But yea, as a community we all need to stand up for our rights as vapors, if things get out of control, this could lead people back to cigs, lead people to other issues like anxiety (which sadly people feel when they are trying to quit other ways or trying cold turkey)

I just wish the FDA would spend their time doing more research other then just spreading their lies. I just find it funny, they tell us how bad cigs are, how bad chew is, and well we find something that wont kill us or harm us as bad as cigs and this is now bad.

As a new vapor myself, this whole FDA thing is very discouraging. Why did I get into vaping?? Cause I had cig cravings but i didn't want to put thousands of harmful toxins in my body, this was my way to fight the cig cravings without going thru all the anxiety and other issues you go thru and without having to buy a pack of cigs and smell like smoke or harm urself while going broke doing it.

If the FDA does this right, they can do the research, even regulate whats put into these along with recognizing vaping as a way for people to get off the cigs. I dunno what else to say.

I hate the fact that this is something that has helped thousands or millions of people stay off cigs and now the FDA wants to squash it. I also hate the fact their are many great people out there that are making hardware and juice to help people and it's now their way of living and they wanna put these people out of business. I haven't met any of the vapors or companies in person, but just from ordering, websites and forums, you can tell there are people that take pride in this and they are doing everything to help everyone else out. And that bugs me that they may get hurt with an FDA decision.

So if you are a vapor, know a vapor, or know a company that you believe in that has good people working for them that could all be hurt by this FDA decision. Leave a note to the FDA and tell them everything, let them know how vaping is helping you and your friends/family quit cigs, let them know what research is out there. Do it in a respectful manner but make your point. This is our chance to stand up for something we believe in.