E-cigarettes enter the tobacco wars-could be used to circumvent smoking bans

[The Straight Story]

E-cigarettes enter the tobacco wars



WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Connecticut and other states are taking aim at electronic cigarettes, a battery-powered device with vaporized nicotine, officials said.

"We're actively investigating these companies and their products," Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal told USA Today in a story published Monday.

Public health officials in California, Oregon, New Hampshire and New Jersey said the smokeless devices are the latest thing in the tobacco wars and could be used to circumvent smoking bans.

E-cigarettes, as they are commonly called, are used by at least a half-million U.S. residents, said Matt Salmon, who heads the Electronic Cigarette Association.

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/10/26/E-cigarettes-enter-the-tobacco-wars/UPI-15241256563674/

[imdjh]

1. Yes, cause God Damn It! We're going to rule you.

[The Straight Story]

3. Yep, because when it comes to going to bars - your body, our choice seems to rule

Adults need our priests to keep us from sinning.

[rubberducky]

2. I`d really like to know if these things work.

[imdjh]

4. I can only testify that quitting altogether works.

I have been tempted to see if I can easily smoke a cig and walk away, but it's not worth the risk at this point.

[Xithras]

12. How long has it been?

I quit smoking nine years ago after several years of failed attempts. I'd quit for up to a year at one point, but I'd have ONE and get hooked again.

About five years after quitting, I became really stressed over some unrelated garbage, had a few drinks, and ended up smoking two cigarettes. No cravings the next day. In the four years since, I've probably had two or three more on various occasions, and I've smoked a cigar or three. Again, no cravings.

Your mileage may vary, but in my case it apparently took about five years for my body to completely rid itself of the notion that tobacco was a repeatable thing. When I do rarely light one up now, it's simply a one-off event and doesn't trigger cravings.

Of course, I've NEVER smoked more than the two at once that first time, and there's always been at least a year between attempts.

[imdjh]

19. 2 months about the same as last time

The last time I quit smoking, against my will I might add, was ten years ago for about two months. As soon as I could have a cig, I lit one up and I nearly fainted from the rush. Now that I am 50, I"m thinking that feeling like I am having a stroke probably isn't a good thing to self induce. I've never actually had a stroke, but smoking that first cigarette felt like what I imagined a stroke would feel like. I only harp on stroke because we have these billboards here, showing someone lighting a cig with the caption, "How about a stroke?" .

[Doremus]

5. If by work you mean help you quit smoking the answer is YES.

I haven't had a cigarette in 5 months, the first time in 37 years.

These things (e-cigs) are the only thing that ever worked for me.

[rubberducky]

15. Thanks! I think I will try it if I can afford it.

[derby378]

7. Here's what I understand

An e-cigarette looks like a real cigarette and even delivers nicotine into the lungs and bloodstream like a real cigarette. The tip even lights up when you take a puff, even though it's just a nifty amber light. The smoker gets her nicotine, but since there's no tar or paper being burned, the "smoke" that she exhales is only water vapor.

The e-cigarettes that I know of come in two parts: the filter, which contains the nicotine and should be replaced after 12-24 smokes; and the battery, which looks like standard tobacco paper and even glows on the end while being smoked. The filters themselves actually come with variable doses of nicotine, so it is possible to use an e-cigarette to stairstep down the amount of nicotine ingested until you try a dummy filter with no nicotine.

In other words, the e-cigarette can be used as a stop-smoking device. And it works by allowing the smoker to retain her physical habits of drawing, exhaling, etc. while gradually reducing the amount of nicotine she absorbs into her system.

I think it's a neat idea. Congress should "butt out."

[Solomon]

20. I have one and there's no smoke at all. If you sat right next to me

you wouldn't smell a thing. It's just vapor. I don't use it in public places because I know it will just drive idiots crazy thinking it's some kind of smoke because you can see the vapor.

Drove my wife nuts the first couple of days I used it. She didn't know it was electronic and the first time, I'm sitting there in the den and she goes ballistic until she discovers that it's not real smoke. LOL

Now it just kind of annoys her because it looks like smoke, but you can't smell a thing.

You can adjust the amount of nicotine, even have none at all, which is the goal, and it will still blow vapor. Has no odor at all.

[Lance_Boyle]

6. What are they 'investigating?' The harm from second-hand breath?

Remove the source of the smoke nazis' complaints and they come up with new ones.

[The Straight Story]

8. They always will - because it is about puritan control of people and their choices in life

I am not scared of fundie christians, I am scared of 'fundies' though who want to control the choices people make because they don't like them.

[salvorhardin]

14. The harm to the user has not been investigated

While the harm compared to cigarettes is going to be much less, the user is still absorbing nicotine through their lungs. So the potential for heart disease is still there, and the mist inhaled itself could be harmful in an unforeseen way. These things should be studied, but I also think in terms of harm reduction there's no question that electronic cigarettes are a no brainer.

[Lance_Boyle]

17. but that has nothing to do with 'concerns they may circumvent anti-smoking laws'

Harm to user? Perfectly OK. No harm from secondhand breath? Smoke-nazis can't whine about them being a public health menace and have them banned. Imagine how the loss of CONTROL over other people's lives must be harming them!

[supernova]

9. If they're not throwing out

anything but water vapor, i.e. steam, then I don't have a problem with them in public places.

As a nonsmoker, I don't want to breathe passive smoke. More importantly, I don't want people who work in these places to have to live in it.

[The Straight Story]

10. If someone is enjoying that steam, it is evil and dangerous damnit

:rofl:

[supernova]

11. Some people just can't hold their steam

:-)

[rd_kent]

13. Dont see a problem here.

If it doesnt burn and produce second hand smoke (does it?) then what is the problem? The ban is on "smoking" not nicotine use.

[Shagbark Hickory]

16. Will someone please do a suicide bomb at the tobacco companies already?

They will find a way to committ mass genocide any way they can. If they have to do it in an electronic death stick then they will. If you think the government is limiting your rights, just wait until you're imprisoned by a deadly electronic nicotine habit.

[eShirl]

18. Thinking about giving these to the downstairs neighbors, "secret santa" style. n/t