The Electronic Cigarette
In our society, there are a number of agencies in place whose sole purpose is to look after our Health and Welfare, therefore it is not unreasonable to expect that they will perform these duties to the best of their ability. Unfortunately though, it seems that our health and safety are of no real concern or interest to them.
Although not authorized to do so, the FDA ... recently stopped shipments of electronic cigarettes from entering the USA and then conducted a “preliminary analysis” on some samples of electronic cigarettes and components from two leading brands. Although their summary states that “due to the variability among products, this analysis should not be used to draw conclusions about what substances are or are not present in particular electronic cigarettes or brands of electronic cigarettes.”
FDA Summary
http://www.fda.gov/
Their next controversial step was to issue a news release urging consumers not to purchase this dangerous, unknown product.
FDA NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: July 22, 2009
Media Inquiries: Siobhan DeLancey, 301-796-4668, siobhan.delancey@
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
FDA and Public Health Experts Warn About Electronic Cigarettes
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that a laboratory analysis of electronic cigarette samples has found that they contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze.”
FDA News release
http://www.fda.gov/
“The FDA has been examining and detaining shipments of e-cigarettes at the border and the products it has examined thus far meet the definition of a combination drug-device product under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The FDA has been challenged regarding its jurisdiction over certain e-cigarettes in a case currently pending in federal district court. The agency is also planning additional activities to address its concerns about these products.”
This is the technical definition regarding “drugs” and “devices”
"device" means an article, instrument or apparatus used
(a) to prevent, diagnose, treat or mitigate a disease, disorder or abnormal physical or mental state or a symptom of them,
(b) to restore, correct or modify organic functions,
(c) to diagnose pregnancy, or
(d) to administer a drug,
provided the article, instrument or apparatus meets the criteria listed in the bylaws;
"drug" means a substance or combination of substances used, or for use, in or on the body of a person or animal
(a) to prevent, diagnose, treat or mitigate a disease, disorder or abnormal physical or mental state or a symptom of them, or
(b) to restore, correct or modify organic functions.
The electronic cigarette is manufactured and sold as an alternative to tobacco products and is not intended to prevent, diagnose, treat or mitigate a disease or abnormal physical or mental state and is not intended to restore, correct or modify organic functions, as such, the definition as a drug does not apply to this product. Similarly, since the electronic cigarette is not manufactured with the intention to administer a drug, it therefore does not qualify as a device under this same act.
The electronic cigarette may qualify as a tobacco product, although it is my own personal opinion that this technology has placed this product in a category all it's own and should therefore be regulated as such. However, since the FDA news release, there have been a number of other agencies, corporations, government officials and prominent activists and associations that have joined forces to banish the electronic cigarette from the marketplace altogether.
In reviewing the FDA report, I realized that the results show without a doubt that the electronic cigarette is what it claims to be ... a safer alternative to traditional tobacco products. Considering the fact that the “cigarette”
FDA Report
http://www.fda.gov/
Although there are readily available safety reports on the electronic cigarette to be found everywhere, it seems none of the individuals involved with the boycott and ban, bothered to either confirm nor discount the FDA claims.
This reckless behavior by all parties involved has led to worldwide border bans and a vilification of the product, leaving many consumers unable to purchase more supplies for a product that millions of people around the world have been safely using for approximately five years. Their actions have also caused an ever increasing financial loss to many distributors around the world.
There are only two reasons to which I can attribute their actions. Either these agencies, organizations, government officials and others in whom we have placed the responsibility of our health and welfare, failed us by not verifying the facts before the boycott and ban was set in motion, or they were in fact aware of the results and chose instead to ignore the long-term effect their actions would have on us ... the consumer. Either way ... there has to be some accountability.
In denying us our right to choose which product we wish to utilize, we are being held hostage to the tobacco products which have been killing us for decades. I myself, bought an electronic cigarette and had set aside my tobacco cigarettes, choosing instead to utilize this new product that I believe offers a much better and yes ... dare I say it ... safer alternative. However, due to the boycott and ban ... I have once again returned to a product that we all know will kill me ... and I invite any one of you who have played a part in these deceptive actions which places my life or death in your hands, to look me in the eye and tell me honestly, that any “possible unknown risk” attributed to this product, outweighs the many “known dangers” attributed to tobacco usage.
Trillions of dollars, hundreds of thousands of man hours, research study ... after research study producing report after report, spanning decades ... simply reaffirm the same facts that we have known for years. Tobacco products kill. In all this time, all these agencies, research facilities, doctors, government officials and everyone else who benefits from the tobacco profits annually, have been either unable or unwilling to produce a solution to a problem that has claimed millions of lives over the years, by way of devastating illnesses, ultimately leading to death.
One man took an interest after losing his own father to lung cancer and handed us the solution to the problem every smoker faces, but yet instead of embracing this new product and showering Hon Lik, it's creator and designer, with the recognition and praise he deserves, the electronic cigarette has instead been vilified, boycotted and banned, by all those who are sworn to look out for our best interests.
The fact that our health and welfare, our life and ultimately our death ... rests in the hands of these individuals, is a very disconcerting prospect, since they have already shown us so little thought or consideration when making these decisions that will define our future.
In our society ... in this day and age, I expected much more from them and I am deeply offended that my well-being weighs in as a distant second, to the annual profits realized from the tobacco industry.
Please visit this site for more information
http://smoke-
