Ecig Critic

The proposed bill to ban electronic cigarettes to minors and impose a 70% tax rate is under intense debate.  Here are a few excerpts:

State Health Department Director Loretta Fuddy told members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, “There is very little known about the long term health effects of the use of e-cigarettes or the vapors given off. Recent studies have shown that within one liquid nicotine cartridge there is enough nicotine to cause serious illness or even death.”

And a very well proposed counter:

Cory Smith, president of local retailer Volcano Fine Electronic Cigarettes, said the product actually helps tobacco smokers quit their habits and produces none of the second-hand smoke issues associated with traditional tobacco cigarettes.

“The tohacco tax is aimed at  deterring tobacco use and  generating revenue to pay for health care costs associated with tobacco-related harms,” Smith said.

“Since the research thus far indicates that e-cigarettes show promise as a means to  deter tobacco use and thereby reduce the cost of  tobacco-related harms, it makes no sense to subject e-cigarettes to the tobacco tax,” Smith said.

Taxing e-cigarettes at the 70% tobacco rate would shut down his business and drive customers to the internet to obtain the devices from out-of-state sources, he said.

“The general cost of a fully-functioning electronic cigarette kit is upwards of  $70,” Smith testified. “Levying a 70’% tax on all of these items would virtually guarantee that purchasers will go out of state, or, worse yet, return to tobacco cigarettes.”

And,  the argument to that:

But Health Director Fuddy said more scientific study must be undertaken of e-cigarettes.

“We don’t feel that from a Department of Health perspective that the science is really in yet. This is a rather new product,” she said.

Also testifying in favor of the measure were the state Tax Department, Honolulu Police Department and various health organizations including the American Cancer Society and the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii.

Coalition executive director Deborah Zsyman told the committee that some sales of e-cigarettes appear aimed at under-aged customers.

“Often the cartridges are candy flavored, making them enticing to youth.   Currently, they are readily available at mall kiosks and small shops throughout our state and are priced as low as $10 for the disposable varieties,” said Zsyman.

The coalition’s concerns about e-cigarettes center on sales to minors and on the lack of scientific evidence on the health effects of the devices.

“I think if we find there’s evidence that this is really a product that is safe and  does help people quit smoking, then, yes, we’d be supportive of it,” she said.

Both well voiced arguments.  But the analogy that they would rather the ship full of regular cigarette smokers is sinking and a possible life raft in the form of electronic cigarettes is now handy for those passengers, they’d rather let the passengers stay on the sinking ship than allow them to switch to the raft.

Banning the from minors is, of course, the right thing to do.  No one is arguing that.  But, if the tax goes into place, are they ok with people switching back to cigarettes?

Now, the flavors they argue that are targeted to kids, has anyone researched this?  Are these flavors that adult buyers have requested?  I know I, as an e-cig user prefer Coffee flavor over menthol, that I use to smoke for 19 years in regular cigarettes.  Arguably there may be a fey that are using unsavory methods and those people should be stopped.  No one should entice kids or non-smokers to these products.

But, if this bill passes, a USA based company will go under: wolcanocigs.com is based in Hawaii and will not be able to withstand the 70% tax law.  If this is imposed on more states, similar companies will go under, because we, as e-cig users, can simply by them from over-seas, mainly the UK.

Why don’t we get the studies in place.  Is second-hand vapor bad for people around them?  Just because we can’t smell it, doesn’t mean it isn’t harmful.  Can we answer real questions and not worry about how much money somebody is making?

In short, taxing electronic cigarettes before anyone can prove they are dangerous is as bad as allowing regular cigarettes, that kills smokers and non-smokers alike, to still sell in the billions that they do.

If electronic cigarettes prove dangerous, I will one of the first to ask for more aggressive actions to be taken.  Lets not destroy more american businesses before all the evidence is in.

Read the article here from HawaiiReporter.com.

The Smoke-No-Smoke German group opened its first all multi-flavored electronic cigarette shop in Britain, Rugby Warwickshire, called fag-free tobacconist (“fag” is the UK’s slang for cigarette, so no emails please).  They have 6 stories in Germany already and hope to spread the stores over England quickly.

They sell flavored disposable e-cigs with a “try before you buy”  policy.  They are focusing on current cigarette smokers.  They are attacking even the nobility:

“Her name was Lady Denbigh, she came in and has gone away to recommend it to her Lord husband,” said Jim Lacey, Managing Director of the company.

With smokers as their target audience Jim says they have about a 95% sales ratio with walk in customers.  The reasoning ranges from smokers looking for an alternative that doesn’t contain the almost 5000 carcinogens that regular cigarettes do.   Also they are cheaper:

“I think it’s a combination of a number of factors really. The cost is 80 per cent cheaper than cigarettes and the sensation is as real as it can be to smoking without actually smoking.” says Jim.

Read the article here at newstoday.co.uk.

Here’s a video on Electronic Cigarettes and one man’s problem with using them in an Olive Gardens in Greenville, NC.

Armstrong Atlantic State University is imposing a new policy that will ban all forms of tobacco including cigarettes, pipes, cigars, chewing tobacco electronic cigarettes and other tobacco products.  This new policy covers not only students but teachers as well.

They have a Tobacco Control Task Force that is made up of Students, Faculty and Staff members.  The policy was put in place by the Student Government Association.

Read the complete article here from Savannah Morning News.

New Mexico has a proposed bill that will increase the taxes on tobacco products other than cigarettes such as cigars and smokeless cigarettes from 25% to 57% of the products value.  This comes on the heels of the bill proposed by Hawaii to massively increase the taxes on its electronic cigarettes.

The worrisome part is it’s possible effect on electronic cigarettes:

Perhaps more significant is the bill’s expanded definition of “tobacco products,” which would be redefined to include “any product containing tobacco that is intended or expected to be consumed without being combusted, unless it has been approved by the United States food and drug administration as a tobacco use cessation product and is being marketed and sold for that approved purpose.”  This could arguably cover electronic cigarettes, which generally contain a tobacco solution that is consumed without being combusted.

This is the trend others have worried about.  Read the full article here from Tobacco Law Blog.

Rachael Ray discusses electronic cigarettes with guest doctor Dr. Ian Smith.  Then Dr Vapor, a pro e-cigarette profile and physician as well, posts and comments on the show.  He does a better job than I in discussing Rachael Ray and her gust doctor, so check it out.

Wired, a popular electronics and gadgets magazine, also has its own Podcast.  This week they covered a variety of topics from the quality of audio according to Neil Young, 3D food printing (wow), Facebook’s big IPO (initial pupil offering or when their shares can be traded on wall street, for those who might not know) and electronic cigarettes!

The hosts, Mike Issac (who is a smoker) and Michael Calore, weigh in on there thoughts on the disposable e-cigarette Square.  Mike Issac is the one who was given the task of reviewing the e-cig and since he was new to the e-cig world, it was refreshing to hear an outsiders perspective.  I’m curious to see how he feels about them in about a week or two or if he continues to use them for that matter.

Heck out the video.

There are times when reading the news makes you take notice and be amazed.  That moment happened for me the morning of February 1st, 2012 when I read about a growing leader in the electronic cigarette world speak out against the slew of proposed e-cig bans and tax increases.  Not only did they speak out, but they did so with well thought out direction and a strong clear tone that left no mistake how they felt about the swirling sea of state legislated discussions that have been taking ever increasing aggressive stances against e-cigs.

The rising tide of unsupported criticism that is building due to this movement seems to have pushed blu Cigs, one of the largest distributors and manufacturers of electronic cigarettes, into putting there proverbial “foot down” and speak out against these stinging allegations.

blu Cigs … is firing back against false broad-based claims, including those that allege all e-cig companies are marketing to minors. As lawmakers use this new tack in an attempt to vilify an entire industry, blu has taken proactive precautions to ensure minors cannot purchase its e-cigarettes – using the same process that alcohol and tobacco companies must mandatorily use to verify age for all online and phone purchases, each and every time.

… blu does not offer flavors with traditional adolescent appeal like fruit punch, bubble gum, or chocolate.

Jason Healy, President of blu Cigs comments, “We maintain the absolute highest standards when it comes to the retailers we choose, so to make these false accusations and call them out as irresponsible when it comes to e-cigarette sales is negligent. Our retail partners operate to the highest standard – and aggressively I.D. all customers for each and every sale. …  Federal and state governments claim that high taxes on e-cigs are designed to price out consumers, but these increases are purely based on fiscal reasons, and completely contrary to consumer health advocacy … If consumer health is their primary concern, as it should be, then premature bans and tax hikes are not in the public’s best interest.”

A 2010 study co-authored by Dr. Michael Siegel of Boston University’s School of Public Health actually concluded that e-cigarettes are safer than tobacco cigarettes, and have the potential to become a smoking cessation device.

Read the article here at marketwatch.com.

Advocates of electronic cigarettes are taking to Facebook to urge Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard to “keep his promise” and veto smoking ban proposal that will be arriving in his office on Thursday morning.  Facebook comments have been mounting as the hour draws near for the Mayor to make his choice.

The proposal will not only expand the current cigarette ban to include bars, but will lump electronic cigarettes in with regular cigarettes and ban them as well from most public places.

Most of the posts listed are actually urging him to pass the bill, while a strong few are begging him to veto it.

Mayor Ballard is taking issue with an exemption for private clubs and veteran halls that can keep their smokey environment if they keep kids off the premises.

A sample from the many pro-signing messages:

I urge you to please pass the smoking ban! As a former bar employee I do not miss waking up with a tightness in my chest, dry eyes, and a cough I did not have before or have had since. Why would you deny so many a healthy working environment just because of the activities of a few private clubs? Look at this ban as a step forward. The private club and e-cigarette issues can be changed in the future if necessary. — Laura Keith.

And here’s one expressing a different view:

Mayor Ballard, please keep your promise to veto proposal 18 as it is unfair to include the use of e-cigarettes with true cigarettes…..I smoked for 35 years, 2 packs a day but new that it was slowly killing me…..my wife and I switched to e-cigs 2 1/2 years ago after trying every FDA approved method that is out there. The e-cig worked for us instantly and we don’t have to ingest the 4000+ chemicals that are in cigarettes….thank you for your time and please veto Prop. 18. — Brian Deel.

Read the entire article here at blogs.indystar.com.