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Should the FDA regulate electronic cigarettes?

Should e cigarettes be regulated?

  • No, but get rid of the candy favors that might attract kids to the product

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    5

Peter Grimm

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What they are: electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, are a tobacco free alternative to cigarettes. They consist of three parts; a battery, a charger and a cartridge containing water, flavoring, and nicotine. They emit no smoke, but only water vapor. Since they deliver nicotine, many use the devices as a bridge to quit smoking and to spare others their second hand smoke.


The argument for regulation: the fear is that kids will get a hold of these devices, and that it will be a gateway to smoking cigarettes. The cartridges come in favors such as piña colada, chocolate, bubble gum, and soda, as well as others which taste like tobacco. The worry is that such devices have a "cool" factor which will encourage nonsmokers to start, especially kids. If a non smoker uses the device, they can become addicted to the nicotine.


The argument against regulation: nicotine, while highly addictive, is safe. Your typical cigarette contains tar and about 1000 chemicals, many of which are cancer causing. E cigarettes contain only six basic ingredients, none of which cause cancer. Thus, the devices have the potential to save lives. Cigarettes also smell and emit dangerous second hand smoke. E cigarettes emit water vapor, which is odorless.


Misc info: currently, the FDA does not regulate electronic cigarettes due to a 2010 federal court ruling. They are, however, trying to find legal grounds to do so.

Smoking cessation products (gum, pills, etc) are a multi billion dollar industry. Thus, there is quite a push from the pharma lobby to have e cigarettes heavily regulated and taxed.

Sweden has the lowest incidence of tobacco related illness in the western world. National studies attribute this to the popularity of a product called "snus," which is a tobacco derivative, cleaned of most it's cancer causing agents, which delivers nicotine by being placed in a pouch under the user's lip.


What do you think?
 
I don't know a lot about them but they seem pretty expensive, at least the ones I saw, so taxing them heavily might drive people back to the Cowboy Killers.
 
They're already expensive enough and they seem to have helped a lot of people quit or at least relieved them when they are flying or working. They're useful and are made by smaller companies. So, no doubt, the tobacco industry will want them to be as inaccessible as possible to preclude their dwindling customer base from escaping the addiction. The FDA will see this as a wonderful opportunity to be bribed by Big Tobacco Lobbyists and will no doubt do as their masters tell them to keep the cash flow coming in.
 
I've used a non nicotine version.

Strawberry version is pretty darn tasty.

You can't get the Nicotine versions in Canada except by internet order.

From what I've heard they can be pretty dangerous because users don't think about just how much nicotine they're putting into their bodies which can lead to... believe it or not, overdoses.

Anywho as far as regulation and taxation goes, given the vast difference of the product to cigarettes, and the fact that they are bought far less often even if they became widely popular and available, I don't believe they can be taxed the same but as far as regulation goes I believe the usual rules should apply (only sell to 18+ etc) for anything that induces nicotine into the user.
 
I've used a non nicotine version.

Strawberry version is pretty darn tasty.

You can't get the Nicotine versions in Canada except by internet order.

From what I've heard they can be pretty dangerous because users don't think about just how much nicotine they're putting into their bodies which can lead to... believe it or not, overdoses.

Anywho as far as regulation and taxation goes, given the vast difference of the product to cigarettes, and the fact that they are bought far less often even if they became widely popular and available, I don't believe they can be taxed the same but as far as regulation goes I believe the usual rules should apply (only sell to 18+ etc) for anything that induces nicotine into the user.

Why can you only get the nicotine free e cigs in Canada? I don't think that would do much to curb your nicotine craving, unless you are using some other form of nicotine replacement therapy like the gum or the patch.

Seems like the risk of relapse to regular cigarettes would be higher.

I use a tobacco flavored version, with nicotine, and it's a godsend. I haven't had a single cigarette craving, my breathing has improved, my sense of smell is back, and I don't smell like cigarettes anymore.

I do, however, crave my e cigarette like crazy!
 
Why can you only get the nicotine free e cigs in Canada?

I think our health ministry didn't like the risk I was referring to about nicotine overdoses.

I don't think that would do much to curb your nicotine craving, unless you are using some other form of nicotine replacement therapy like the gum or the patch.

Far as I know the idea is that you use it in conjuction with other anti-smoking aids... what it does is take away that physical craving of holding a cigarette in your hand.

And best part is you can smoke it indoors with no smell.

Seems like the risk of relapse to regular cigarettes would be higher.

Really depends on the person.
 
I think our health ministry didn't like the risk I was referring to about nicotine overdoses.



Far as I know the idea is that you use it in conjuction with other anti-smoking aids... what it does is take away that physical craving of holding a cigarette in your hand.

And best part is you can smoke it indoors with no smell.



Really depends on the person.

I have never heard of anyone overdosing om nicotine. Is it even possible? even if it were, an entire bottle of juice has as much nicotine as a pack and a half of cigarettes. I don't think anyone can overdose from a pack and a half.

Even if they did, the worst that would happen is puking and a headache.
 
It is also called Vaping. My current flavor is a mixture of Menthol and peppermint/spearmint. I mix Menthol in almost all flavors I try. Why, because it helps with keeping my sinuses clearer.

I smoked because it helped calm a nerve condition I have. My doctor recommended that I switch to vapor after gum, patches and other nicotine products failed to also control the condition. So far, the vapor is working and coughing/hacking has gone away and using the mint/menthol flavors is helping with my sinusitis.

I don't buy into the whole "marketing to children" hype. Teenagers will find a way whether it is marketed to them or not. All the teen smoking laws and drug laws haven't really had a great impact upon teenage smoking and drug use.

The only real reason to put a tobacco type tax on it is because with a large number of smokers switching, it will create havoc with many states tax systems. The tax was supposed to be to get people to quit smoking, if it is doing that, then it is good. Putting the same tax on alternatives would simply discourage people from switching.

While it is possible to od on nicotine, as Peter pointed out, it would take some effort.

For those who want to switch and quit smoking, DO NOT buy the brand BLU, their batteries suck and will quit on you very quickly, not only that they are not refillable. There are some stores that now are dedicated to vapor products, the local ones seem to be always packed, so expect a wait if you go there.

Also, AMTRAK does allow the use of e-cigarettes or vapor on-board their trains, haven't heard about airlines doing it, but then, I don't fly.
 
they should have to meet safety standards.

as for taxing them like cigarettes, that's counterproductive. honestly, they look like a healthier alternative, and i think that we would want current smokers to consider them. even if they aren't completely harmless, they will most likely be found to be better than standard cigarettes. the risk i see is that many are coming from overseas, and who knows what some of them might contain?

what we probably need is a good long term peer-reviewed study on them to see exactly what we're looking at healthwise.
 
What do you think?

I think the following should be the only regulations-

1-The person buying the atomizers/refill cartridges with nicotine should be at least 18.

2-There should be safety mechanism to ensure someone can't overdose on nicotine like automatic temporary shut off after a certain number of puffs. I have heard that some e-cigarettes have this safety feature.

3-The battery don't explode or over heat.

4-Minors trying to use this product to quit should be able to obtain a doctors prescription to use this product.

5-There should be no punitive taxes on it. The goal should be to entice people to switch over from tobacco products.

6-The amount of nicotine one can get from these before they temporarily shut off should be equivalent what someone can get from smoking a real cigarette of the same strength. For example light cartridges should be equivalent to light cigarettes and max cartridges should be equivalent to unfiltered cigarettes.
 
I'm gonna have to change my mind on this one. It is possible to OD on nicotine from these things, I did it on Saturday and I'm still sick as hell. So there you go.

The thing is s, you don't really know how much of the drug you're getting in your system. It's not like cigarettes which are full of tar, which you have an automatic shutoff mechanism in your head for. E cigs you can sit and puff on all day, it feels like water vapor.

The good news, though, is the thought of a cigarette or an e cig makes me want to hurl, so I'm pretty sure I've effectively kicked the habit. That's one way to do it, though not recommended. Lol.

Seriously, be careful. Nicotene overdose can be very serious and you an even die from it.
 
I'm sorry, did you suggest that a product can be both highly addictive and safe? No, that doesn't work. Addiction, even to something with no other complications, is still a serious consequence. The danger of overdose, discussed above, is also a serious concern.
 
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