Vaping in public in Canada.....

[ninjacat]

Hi canadain peeps (and anywhere else ecigs are banned). What are your thoughts on vaping in public? Do you do it loud & proud or do you do it stealthily? I was at our local bar the other night and everyone was asking me what the h@#% I was smoking. So I explained as plainly as I could, but didn't like drawing too much attention. I own store and I have HC dropping in every once in a while to check on my tobacco, etc. and they warn me ecigs are illegal. Now I'm paranoid someone who may not like me may "squeal". Any thoughts or advice?

 

[WayneH86]

Gay marriage is legal in Canada but not e cigs? WTF?

 

[Dj.p]

So is stinkie smoking still legal in Canada? How does that work?

 

[Off Topic]

Corrupt, Idiot politicians are not a USA exclusive phenomena.

 

[Maestro]

They're banned by Health Canada, so vendors may have an issue, but they're not illegal. You can vape with impunity as long as the owner is ok with it.

 

[PittBoss]

I believe their "reasoning" is that the tobacco products that are sold there contain nicotine, but is controlled. There is no "control" on nicotine amounts in e-liquid and thus they don't want people Od'ing on it. They are still legal to use for individuals but illegal to import, sell and advertise. Whatever the heck that means exactly..Welcome btw to the forum!

 

[BananaBrianna]

I am in Ontario. And hello everyone this is my first post!
I vape at work loud and proud, in restaurants I ask first and in shopping centres I use stealth.

 

[ninjacat]

They consider nicotine juice to be an illegal drug here, no? I'm not sure how the laws vary from province to province. All I know is I got it straight from the jack@$$'$ (ahem. Tob. Inspectors mouth) that the whole setup is illegal. Funny thing is he said he picked one up at a gas station for his coworkers to try out at the office.

They are worried the underagers will find it appealing and buy them online.

 

[ninjacat]

Everyone I try to recommend it to to try say " aren't you worried, it's illegal, I would be but I'm scared, blah blah). Maybe it's just the small hick town I'm in because most people haven't even heard of vaping yet out here....

 

[BananaBrianna]

The whole thing isn't illegal, like someone else said above only the vendors get targeted. There is no way for the Inspectors to know who is vaping with nic and who isn't so they can't get us They CAN get the vendors who have nic in their juice. I'm new to the whole e cig thing so don't know much but I think even that is a tricky subject currently

 

[ninjacat]

hmmm, Ok. So my next question is: Do canadians order ecig parts & kits etc. from the US and does everything get held up at customs or just if they see nic. juice?

So I concede, I have been terribly misinformed. It is legal to vape here in Canada. And as for parcels at customs, it's a crap shoot I guess. Thanks everyone for your input!

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

I vape in public but if on someone's property I ask permission. I've yet to be told no. As for the laws in Canada it is illegal to import and/ or sell Nicotine without a license. In Quebec, Ontario, B.C. you'll find Non Nic Ecigs in many convenience stores. As for someone in authority telling you they are illegal they are bullying with false information BUT you have certain licenses that they could pull at any given time so as far as your own personal use goes it's no problem legally but if you were to begin selling they would prolly give you a hard time as they have with the many Cdn vendors we have. Not worth getting into a tussle with them and risking your livelihood IMO. There are just restrictions on importation and sale. No law against the personal use of EJuice.
This was the last Advisory they sent out March 27, 2009:
Persons importing, advertising or selling electronic cigarette products in Canada must stop doing so immediately. Health Canada is providing information to interested stakeholders on how to apply for the appropriate market authorizations and establishment licences. Yet there is no law in place so they're blowing out their @#$%^
Health Canada Advises Canadians Not to Use Electronic Cigarettes - Health Canada Advisory 2009-03-27

Hi canadain peeps (and anywhere else ecigs are banned). What are your thoughts on vaping in public? Do you do it loud & proud or do you do it stealthily? I was at our local bar the other night and everyone was asking me what the h@#% I was smoking. So I explained as plainly as I could, but didn't like drawing too much attention. I own a Liquor Vendor/Convenience store and I have HC dropping in every once in a while to check on my Tobacco, etc. and they warn me ecigs are illegal. Now I'm paranoid someone who may not like me may "squeal". Any thoughts or advice?

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

I've ordered tons of juice and hardware from the U.S. and China without problem. Nic juice is a no no but usually gets through cuz Customs and Canada Post is overwhelmed since online shopping has exploded. Ecig hardware isn't generally a problem if it's considered for personal use. If it's large shipment of PVs then they may have issues with it. With juice it's crapshoot but with hardware small chance of problems and worst case scenario they send it back to the vendor.
Happy Vaping.

hmmm, Ok. So my next question is: Do canadians order ecig parts & kits etc. from the US and does everything get held up at customs or just if they see nic. juice?

So I concede, I have been terribly misinformed. It is legal to vape here in Canada. And as for parcels at customs, it's a crap shoot I guess. Thanks everyone for your input!

 

[ninjacat]

I've ordered tons of juice and hardware from the U.S. and China without problem. Nic juice is a no no but usually gets through cuz Customs and Canada Post is overwhelmed since online shopping has exploded. Ecig hardware isn't generally a problem if it's considered for personal use. If it's large shipment of PVs then they may have issues with it. With juice it's crapshoot but with hardware small chance of problems and worst case scenario they send it back to the vendor.
Happy Vaping.

Thanks so much for all your help. You are right, I would never do anything to have any of my vendor licences pulled. The tobacco inspectors here are incredible bullies. I have read all the press releases in the past, but us small town people are always misinformed and I was quite sure what the actual laws were for personal use. Thanks for clearing it up. I know you can get some great deals in the US for stuff but as a Canadian business owner, I believe in supporting our Canadian Vendors and will not order from anywhere else. Happy Vaping to you as well!

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

Edit: info OP already has in regards to a Supplier here in Canada.

Thanks so much for all your help. You are right, I would never do anything to have any of my vendor licences pulled. The tobacco inspectors here are incredible bullies. I have read all the press releases in the past, but us small town people are always misinformed and I was quite sure what the actual laws were for personal use. Thanks for clearing it up. I know you can get some great deals in the US for stuff but as a Canadian business owner, I believe in supporting our Canadian Vendors and will not order from anywhere else. Happy Vaping to you as well!

 

[DaveP]

In some cases I can be on the arrogant side no matter how I try not to be. I'd be tempted to say, "Show me the law on electronic cigarettes.", but I'd say it in a nice way. There should be a Google source that can show you what Canada law says about ecigs. I'd print it and post it on the wall for reference.

I just tell people, "This is what keeps me from smoking tobacco and it may just save my life over time. It's an effective way to get off the cigarettes. Yes, it contains nicotine, but nicotine is about as dangerous as caffeine and I only get about 30% of what a cigarette would deliver and none of the carcinogens. What I exhale contains only about 2% of the nicotine I inhale."

 

[DIGIDY]

I vape in public, I feel completely comfortable vaping outside (parking lots, sidewalks, parks.) When I'm in a public building I try to withhold from regularly hauling on my PV as I would at home. I sometimes try to be as noticeable as possible and try to spark conversations with people but they seem to be cautious and keep their distance, lol.

I have received 2 of 2 packages ordered from the U.S. but I do prefer the peace of mind I get when ordering within Canadian boarders... I was on a site and was flabbergasted when I noticed $1.80 shipping within the US. Jeez, I pay $10 shipping here.

 

[BananaBrianna]

My hubby has ordered kits in bulk from China, his second order was held for inspection as they had written "smoking cessation" on the customs slip. The kits were held for about two weeks but because the kits contained no nic and there was no claim to quitting smoking on the kit packages themselves they were released and we received them.
We have ordered lots of juice that contained nic online from Canada and US and no problems with that! (knock on wood)

 

[AuBadge]

They are worried the underagers will find it appealing and buy them online.

I just did a Google search for "buy cigarettes", and a ....-ton of results came up. If they're "worried" that kids can get ecigs, how "worried" are they about the ease with which kids can purchase tobacco online? The "it's about the children" brigade really need to learn a new song.

 

[stuvix]

I vaped in front of a police officer the other day just to see if he would say anything. He didn't - but he definitely saw me with an eGo hanging out my mouth. If anything, I encourage people to ask about it when I'm walking around.

In a public place I definitely hide it, and I go outside if I'm at a bar/restaurant. I just don't want to cause a hassle when I'm out, what's the point? It gives me the best opportunity to try to switch some smokers off their analogs. My attitude may change come winter, though .