There are several sites around that offer “Free” e-cig starter kits. They all point back to one site “ecigs4us.com”, which is now “ignite ecigs”. The BBB (Better Business Bureau) has them listed and they are unable to get in contact with the company to try to resolve payment issues. I would recommend avoiding them, at least until BBB.org is able to contact them so we can hear their side.

It looks like once you sign up, they put you on an auto-charge system that then auto-ships you replacement cartridges for a high premium.

If anyone has more information, for them or horror stories, please let me know. I’d hate for someones first impression of e-cigs to be tarnished by a bad-contract auto-draft site.

Electronic Cigarettes have grown in popularity

after 6 years to attract the attention of local government in Idaho, says:

“There was not an awareness of ecigarettes I’d just begun to see them last year in the malls just last summer. The health district director contacted me to carry this bill,” says Senator Hammond

Senator Hammond say he has seen kiosk workers of electronic cigarettes try to sell to minors:

“I have observed in different malls…sales people at kiosks going up to teens and trying to sell them the product.”

The Governor is expected to sign this bill into law.

Read the article here from KIVI-TV.

In my opinion I, as an electronic cigarette user, have no problem banning sales of electronic cigarettes to kids. I think it’s the right thing to do. I just feel we need an independent study to prove once and for all that electronic cigarettes are not as harmful heath-wise to people as regular cigarettes.  Just one e-cig users view-point.

The Senate panel moves bill HB245 forward, including Hookahs and Electronic Cigarettes in the Utah Clean Air Act on Monday.

The bill bans hookahs and electronic cigarettes from public places and excludes hookah bars and electronic cigarette shops for 5 years where the bill will re-evaluate the bills stance on hookah bars and electronic cigarette shops.

I find the of Michael Siler, government relations director for the Utah chapter of the American Cancer Society.  He was against the bill.  But not because he was for hookahs or electronic cigarettes.  but because he was against the exemption.

“This is bad policy,” he said.

Read the article here.

In Utah, the House has passed the bill, HB245, with a vote of 42-31 that will ban hookahs and electronic cigarettes in indoor public places on February 21, 2012.

Protesters outside of the Capitol were smoking hookahs in protest.  Some, however, say this may not have helped their case:

“They smoked outside today,” said Rep. Brad Last, R-Hurricane, sponsor of HB245. “They could have done it inside and there would be nothing we could say” under current law.*

The bill now moves to the Senate for the next stage In legislation.  But there is an amendment for current hookah bar and electronic cigarette shop owners:

The bill, however, exempts hookah bars and e-cigarette shops from the ban for five years, when the exemption will sunset, and the Legislature may revisit whether to extend it.*

*News from The Salt Lake Tribune

Upcoming Previews

Here is a sneak peek at the next starter kits up for preview:

South Beach Deluxe Starter Kit

I’ve read many reviews on this product.  I’ve been curious if the real product holds up to all the hype surrounding it.  Find out as soon!

EverSmoke Basic Starter Kit

What is EverSmoke and how will their electronic cigarettes hold up under review?  Once I get my hands on them, I’ll thoroughly test them and post the results so you can find out too.

More information about the exploding electronic cigarette has surfaced.

CR123A

The exploding cigarette story that sent waves through the network has more information that have been publicized.  Monday evening, a man who switched to electronic cigarettes 2 years ago because of health issues on his lungs, suffered injuries when his modified electronic cigarette explode while he was using it.  The explosion removed his  front teeth, took some of the flesh from his tongue and left lacerations on his face.

Initially no news was released as to what brand or model he was using.  Fire fighters only said they found several rechargeable batteries, and charging dock and the remains of a “cigar sized” case from the exploding cigarette which they collected.

While the exact brand is unknown, several manufacturers have spoken out.

Thomas Kiklas, co-founder of the Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association, said the industry knows of no problems with the cigarettes or batteries exploding.

Kiklas cited a federal report that found 2.5 million Americans used electronic cigarettes last year.

“There have been billions and billions of puffs on the cigarettes and we have not heard of this happening before,” he said.

And this account from the fire Chief Parker:

Chief Butch Parker of the North Bay Fire District responded to the call. “I have never heard of or seen anything like this before,” Parker told ABCNews.com. Although the battery was unrecognizable after the incident, Parker reported finding several 3.0 volt CR123A type batteries charging in the room along with a scorched battery case that appeared to be one for a cigar-sized device.

These rechargeable batteries are usually used in mod electronic cigarettes.  Mods are becoming more popular, but originally they were “Mods” created by users of electronic cigarettes.  Whether this was a home-made electronic cigarette or was purchased by a site that sells mods instead of regular, “Big company” electronic cigarettes remains to be seen.

Most mod electronic cigarettes are larger than typical electronic cigarettes and don’t use the CR123A batteries as shown above.  Those are not the batteries found, just a picture representing the general style of a CR123A.  Those mods are about the size of a small flash light and last usually for a day or so.  A typical electronic cigarette is just a little longer than a regular cigarette and last just a couple of hours.

I’ll post more information as it becomes available.

The electronic cigarette bill in Hawaii, SB2233, was amended by the Senate Ways and Means Committee to remove the 70% tax increase on the sale of electronic cigarettes and passed with only the ban of sales to minors part in tact.

Opponents of the taxing idea said the devices, which deliver vaporized nicotine to users, do not contain tobacco, do not emit hazardous or noxious smoke, and actually help customers break smoking habits.

This is an important moment for electronic cigarette companies and users.  If the proposed tax increase was passed, there was a good chance several other states would have proposed similar tax increases that would have had a negative impact on US-based electronic cigarette manufacturers and distributors, not to mention e-cig users.

This can definitely be seen as a positive step for the electronic cigarette community.

Read the article here at hawaiireporter.com.

HB245, the bill that would label Hookah and electronic cigarettes as smoking, was approved on Thursday, 2-9-2012 in Utah.  This bill bans Hookahs and electronic cigarettes in public places in Utah by labeling them as “smoking”

Hookah bars are allowed to use hookahs if they meet certain criteria; that they have to sell the contents of the hookah, everyone must be 21 or older to enter and at least 10% of its sales come from Hookahs.

Some e-cig users disagreed:

“I don’t want to bash anybody, but I keep hearing the reference to smoke. E-cigarettes are not smoke. It is water vapor,” said Angela Ross, who switched to e-cigarettes after 20 years of tobacco smoking.

But some legislatives state their reasons:

Teresa Garrett, of the Utah Department of Health, said regulations would clear up confusion about e-cigarettes.

“Businesses don’t know if they can exclude them or not,” she said. “This bill helps clarify that.”

Read the rest of the article here from desertnews.com.