Electronic cigaretts: new laws prompted by hysteria and misinformation

[futurebird.livejournal.com]

My uncle smoked himself to death. And like so many people in our families and communities, he wanted to quit so very badly for years and years. He had tried over and over for 20 years and never broke free.  Today smokers know that smoking is deadly most try sincerely to quit. Hypnosis, patches, cold turkey, gum etc. work for some but not for everyone. That's why I think it is important to keep as many posibilites open as possible. 

These methods fail  for some because they don't re-create the experience of smoking. When one smokes we focus on our breathing. In a way it is like yoga, there are visual cues (smoke) and an oral sensation of air and smoke passing through the mouth. Smoking often forces you to step outside. How often do you stand under the eves when it is raining and just watch the rain fall? When you smoke you can see your breath, strangely, this deadly activity can make one feel very alive. I should know, I smoked for 2 years around age 24. I picked it up because of my fascination with the glamour of smoking. I rolled my own cigarettes and thought I was being very bohemian. In retrospect, it was more than a little stupid. I'm lucky that quitting was not too hard for me since I never got very serious.

So, what if there was a gadget that mimicked all of the key aspects of the activity of smoking, but without the danger of inhaling burning material, and without (if you wish) the nicotine ?-- well, there is just such a gadget and almost no one has heard of it. It's called the e-cigarette. A e-cigarette is a miniature atomizer, the same device used to make "stage smoke" so often found in haunted houses around Halloween. The "smoke" you see from the device consists of water vapor, it can be flavored to taste like a cigarette, like nothing at all, or even like an apple pie. You may choose to have nicotine added to the smoke at a wide variety of strengths. (Hence, it can function like the nicotine patch, providing a carful step-down from nicotine consumption that avoids withdraws. It's worth mentioning that while nicotine is the addictive agent in cigarettes it is not the most harmful aspect of smoking by a long shot, the greatest harm is done by carcinogenic tar.) The key advantage of the e-cigarette is that while you are doing an activity that feels and looks just like smoking there is no fire, no burning, no tar entering your lungs. Just like the smoke machines used for theatre production and raves the vapor has no odor that clings to clothing, it won't stain the teeth either. Preliminary studies have shown e-cigarettes to be safe and without a doubt much better than smoking "analog" cigarettes, but more studies are needed.

Already, many people have used these devices to quit. Some devices are available commercially and sold in shopping malls and truck stops. Quite a few of the devices sold in this context are rip-offs, they are not quality devices and often fail to really help people quit, those who quit mostly buy the products online. Popular models include the Joye 510 (a small unit that is only a little larger than a normal cigarette) and the Joye eGo (a larger unit with better battery capacity).

The devices are very simple and it is easy to make one one your own. Many communities of "modders" (short for modifiers, since they often modify commercial products) have sprug up online, some of the designs created by ordinary users have become popular enough to grow in to small businesses. In addition to this the art of mixing the "e-juice" or "e-liquid" that is vaporized by the device has also caused many small kitchen-based businesses to come to life. Places with name like "Mrs. T's" or "Kick Bass Vapor" produce favors that mimic every food product known to man. A major hub for all of this activity is the online forum www.e-cigarette-forum.com.


But, all of this creative and frankly life-saving activity will grind to a halt if law-makers and the general public fail to learn more about these devices. Recently, a smoking ban passed (for all public buildings, parks and outside areas of places like public colleges) in New York state said that "smoking and tobacco use, including the use of electronic cigarettes" was banned. Even this wording betrays the ignorance of the people who enacted this ban. Electronic cigarettes can contain no nicotine, if the users chooses, hence, they are not always "tobacco products" -- nor are the really "smoking" since the smoke like substance is water vapor and not the product of anything burning. They have effectively banned the use of fog machines but I doubt any of them even realize it! It is so frustrating to see how quickly people react to something that they think they understand without thinking about it. This is going on all over the country, as more people find out about electronic cigarettes, more people are moving to have them banned or treated exactly like analog cigarettes. Considering the fact that they have helped many people to quit and the fact that they are pretty much harmless this is totally unnecessary. At the same time, more study is needed to determine their long-term safety, and, of course, some regulation is needed for those e-liquids that contain tobacco. A labeling law might make the most sense, holding vendors responsible for having exactly the level of nicotine that they display on the bottle. Hopefully, this could be done without requiring costly inspections or testing. It might be reasonable to ask a vendor who sells juice with nicotine in it to send in a sample to demonstrate that they are able to correctly measure and test nicotine levels. Some vendors have 100s of flavors so asking for each flavor to be tested might be too costly (and redundant.) As you can see, there is a lot to think about, but it would be ideal if legislators tried to write rules that would allow the small business that sell these products to survive and flourish. This is probably too much to ask. We all know that most law-makers are only looking out for the large corporations!

When I think about "vaping" (as it's affectionados call it) I can't help but wonder what it might have done for my uncle. He always complained "I need something to do with my mouth" --but, nothing ever felt quite right. He would get more and more agitated and then give in. Our whole family was rooting for him and supporting him. He was so ashamed. But addiction is a funny thing, it seems so so so simple to outsiders, but it isn't simple at all. Why should we let moralistic hysteria get in the way of something that is already helping thousands of people? (I strongly suspect that some people do not like electronic cigarettes simply because they are actually fun, and they think smokers need to be punished when they quit.) Why would we want to destroy vibrant creative communities that are making products and inovations for themselves and dozens of small home grown businesses? There is a right way to regulate e-cigarette (or more specifically the liquid which contains nicotine, I see no reason why the e-cigarette itself (also called a personal vaporizer) would need regulation- unless we are going to regulate smoke machines and humidifiers too.) but our legislators are just being lazy and caving in to the dim perception that because smoking is bad if it looks like smoking ... well then it must be bad too.

I write this to help more people become informed, and maybe there are a few smokers who are trying to quit who will read this, people who have tried EVERYTHING and had nothing work, and maybe, just maybe, one of them will give e-cigarettes a shot-- if that happens and you get to spend more years with your niece and family it might just make up for it all.

Comments

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

I used an electronic cigarette when I quit smoking this summer and it was invaluable. The physical withdrawal symptoms only lasted two days but the psychological part, the desire to smoke a cigarette remained for over a month. I missed the act of smoking, which I had always enjoyed, the holding of the cigarette, the drawing in, the release of the smoke. So the e-cigarette provided all of that for me until I no longer had that desire.

They do absolutely no harm to the person using it or anyone around them. Most places already ban the use (restaurants, movie theatres, airplanes) so I can't understand why they would want to ban something that people can use outside or in their home to help them break a very dangerous and deadly habit.

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

Something just occurred to me. I'm wondering if the stop-smoking product companies may be behind this. They make huge amounts of money every year providing products that just don't work because, as you said they don't replace the physical act of smoking. Also, they just prolong the quitting process as they keep the nicotine in your system. Nicotine is removed from one's system 15 minutes after smoking your last cigarette. So by keeping the nicotine constantly in you, as many of these products do you're just feeding the craving. The withdrawal symptoms when you stop using them are not going to be any better than if you'd just stopped completely.

Many doctors do not tell patients this as they are lobbied hard to recommend these products as viable options.

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

All of this post needs citations, but in particular your statements about nicotine leaving the body in 15 minutes. Let's presume you're right. Even if all the nicotine is gone by your next cigarette, the point of physical nicotine addiction is that your brain rewires itself to demand a great deal of nicotine input. If anything, the quick dissipation of nicotine would indicate that long-term exposure to the drug would reduce cravings more than sharp bursts of input, because it would keep those receptors busy for longer.

As for the doctors, again, I need a citation here, as that's a rather extraordinary claim of corruption in defiance of the interests of patients.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

No, it appears that it's only because the FDA believes that they're toxic.

[futurebird.livejournal.com]

When I weaned my self using nicorette I had to cut the gum in to 8ths in the last days, I'd chew it for just a few bites then spit it out... it was so strong even thought it was the lowest mg level out there.

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

I assume that the stop smoking products are actually designed to keep you in a state of perpetual quitting. What drug dealer wants their customer to stop?

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

The American Association of Public Health Physicians actually recommended them as a way to reduce smoking. The FDA wanted to restrict them based on studies that found that even when the product claims no nicotine, nicotine is sometimes found and that the amount of nicotine is often different than the claimed amount. Furthermore they felt that the product was not well labeled. Mainly all the objections were to do with lack of information to the consumer. Their objection was overruled though and the FDA does not currently in any way restrict it, though some states do.

According to wiki, Health Canada issued an advisory against them, worried they might aid in addicting non smokers to cigarettes and that there may be a risk of nicotine poisoning due to not having good controls yet on the amount in the solution.

In Canada, as of March 2009, the import, sale, and advertising of electronic cigarettes containing nicotine are banned in Canada, while non-nicotine e-cigs are legal and may be sold and advertised. Health Canada advised Canadian consumers not to purchase or use any electronic smoking products, cited prohibition of electronic smoking products containing nicotine in the Food and Drugs Act; no market authorization has been granted for any electronic smoking product.

WHO has not come out against the product but has stated it knows of no conclusive test to show it helps people quit.

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

My dad was the same way as your uncle. He tried quitting, oh, maybe a dozen times over the years and never could. Gum, the patch, and a heart attack followed by Chantix didn't do it for him. I wonder if this would have. He loved the excuse to go sit outside and read a book on a warm summer night without my mom or us kids bugging him.

If the only product is water vapor and whatever flavorings are added, then they oughta slap a general "obnoxious smells" statute with clear limits, and call it a day. Banning this tool seems pretty backwards.

[futurebird.livejournal.com]

There is no noticeable odor either. Flavors are quite faint.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

The people blocking E-Cigarettes are ridiculous. This is an excellent example of why I think the FDA needs to be seriously reigned in.

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

Sorry Jeff. No one is biting on either comment. Have a smoke.

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

I tried one of these the other week and it is the only thing that's even come close to matching the feeling of smoking cigarettes (including other plants like lionsfoot or lobelia). I've also been wanting to switch to a pipe for some time now as it will go well with my plaid jacket with leather arm patches, so I'm going to get one of the pipe looking ones :P

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

I've never heard of lionsfoot or lobelia.

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

I've been meaning to dig mine out, clean it up, find my refill and start again. My biggest gripe is that it's plastic.

I've been down to less than a pack a day for over 6 months, so didn't feel the need. That may not sound like much, but after nearly 40 years of 2 packs a day, hey, even my wife is impressed.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

If you're really ready to be a non-smoker, I could help you out (or recommend you to someone closer to you).

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

but after nearly 40 years of 2 packs a day

wheezer_also ?

[kardashev.livejournal.com]

Heh, they didn't have these things when I quit. I had to use sheer willpower combined with constantly reminding myself of how much money I was saving.

And yeah, legislators are acting stupid again. Is anyone really surprised by that? Legislators act like happy assed retards on a constant basis. Sooo...Government gridlock 4evah!

[onefatmusicnerd.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this story has been circulating for a few weeks. I think it was The Economist who ran an interesting article on how Republicans tend to prohibitionists, except on tobacco, and vice versa for Democrats.

I am a pretty big fan of the things, when I told the OFMNette, that she would have to quit smoking before I would move in with her (I do not really care about cigarettes, but my son has asthma, so anywhere I live is smoke-free, period, no exceptions), the e-cigarettes have helped her a great deal.

[futurebird.livejournal.com]

I think some of the confusion stems from mixing up prohibition with public health measures. I generally support 2nd smoking band, cigarette taxes etc. the stupidity here comes from treating something like something it's not.

On the other hand I'd never in 10000 years want any kind of smoking to be illegal. Frankly, I support legalizing all drugs in one manner or another with taxes to pay for drug treatment. Seems les messed up than the system we have now and just think of the savings in the area of law enforcement.

[dreadfulpenny81.livejournal.com]

My grandmother died from lung cancer in 2006. If only...

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

I used cannabis to quit tobacco. Have not had tobacco since March 22, 1976, when I left the Air Force.

Also, I do not consider e-cigs 'smoking', I consider it 'vaporizing'. Not only are they allowed in my venues as the only 'smoking devices' allowed (yes, including hookahs) I may start selling them in our merch booth.

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

Regardless, people die.
90yr old dies of smoking related cancers.
40yr old non-smoker dies of natural causes.
What's the difference?
Nobody seriously thinks they can prevent death.
They do think they can extend lives, as if that really matters.
Or improve quality of life by denying life's pleasures.
Seriously I don't get it.

[futurebird.livejournal.com]

90yr old dies of smoking related cancers.
40yr old non-smoker dies of natural causes.
What's the difference?

His mother is still alive, parents don't expect to burry their children. I do think it is possible to make an informed decision to smoke or even to use crack or go base jumping. That's part of soul freedom. What sucks is that lots of smokers are NOT having fun anymore, they just want to quit. But it's so damn hard.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

You're so close to seeing the libertarian viewpoint, just another step...

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

libertarians do not have a monopoly on liberty.

[korean-guy-01.livejournal.com]

e-cigarettes are a good thing it seems. However, smokers have created the current environment of backlash against them and this problem you mention is a result of that.

I'm still in a domestic environment where smokers can litter, throw material that's burning (in states with burn bans) onto highways (or many times my windshield first & highway second) without fine, etc. Until these two things end (or result in penalty), I will not have sympathy for smokers.