Electronic Cigarette Spot

In a 32 page ruling released today for the Smoking Everywhere vs FDA lawsuit, US Federal Judge Richard Leon has said the FDA has no jurisdiction over electronic cigarettes, at least in so far as regulating them as drug delivery devices. The FDA's efforts to regulate ecigarettes as a drug has taken a severe blow and ecig makers, sellers and users around the globe are rejoicing.

In his ruling Judge Leon had scathing words for the FDA:

This case appears to be yet another example of FDA's aggressive efforts to regulate recreational tobacco products as drugs or devices, Unfortunately it's tenacious drive to maximize its regulatory power has resulted in its advocacy of an interpretation of the relevant law that I find, at first blush, to be unreasonable and unacceptable."

Ray Story, CEO of Smoking Everywhere said ""big big big victory for us." and ecigarette forums around the Internet lit up tonight with rejoicing and celebration at the good news.

What effect with this ruling have as the electronic cigarette industry faces challenges from attorney generals from California and other states as well as stiff opposition from anti smoking groups has yet to be seen.

Goucher College in Baltimore Maryland recently took a survey of faculty, staff and students to decide if electronic cigarettes should be included in their smoking ban. What the survey said tells a lot about the public perception of ecigs and vapers.

First off, I commend Goucher’s President Sanford J. Ungar for doing the survey rather than just taking it upon himself to ban ecigs. That shows good leadership and a true community spirit in the college. Democracy in action!

The survey received good response as well. 470 respondents broke down into 64 faculty, 97 staff and 309 students. The question they were asked was "Should the use of e-cigarettes be covered by the college smoking policy?" 

160 responded NO (12 Faculty, 23 staff, 125 students)  and 310 responded YES (52 Faculty, 74 Staff, 184 students), resulting in ecigarettes being included in their smoking policy. The really great thing about this survey though is that they actually published the comments people made and for me, that's very valuable insight into what people are thinking about ecigs.

 A couple of days ago we reported that USACIG has secured a deal with Hop-on to act as their agent to submit an application to the FDA to allow them to begin clinical studies to see if their Electric Cigarette could be an effective treatment for Parkinson's Disease.

This was a surprise move to many people, me included. So i've been looking into it.

Yes, there is some evidence that nicotine could be a treatment for PD and it's been shown smoking may be a major factor in the reason smokers have a lower instance of PD than non smokers. One study from the College of Medicine at the University of Vermont concluded:

We have begun quantitative studies of both acute and chronic nicotine in PD to assess both cognitive and motor effects. Fifteen (15) nondemented subjects (age 66 +/- 5.3; M/F = 11/4) with early to moderate PD (mean Hoehn-Yahr stage = 1.77; MMSE = 28.6) received a dose-ranging study of intravenous nicotine up to 1.25 microg/kg/min, followed by chronic administration of nicotine by transdermal patch with doses ranging up to 14 mg per day for 2 weeks. Testing occurred both during drug administration and up to 2 months after drug cessation to look for prolonged effects.

Read more

USACIG, maker of the "Electric Cigarette" announced they have signed an exclusive agreement with Hop-on to submit it's electronic cigarette technology to the FDA for clinical studies for the prevention and treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Recent studies by the Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center lead by Maryka Quik, Ph D have indicated intermittent nicotine treatment can reduce medication induced dyskinesias by as much as 50%. USACIG is hoping their electronic cigarette might be the perfect way to deliver nicotine to Parkinson's patients.

Peter Michaels, CEO of Hop-on, the company one usually associates with multi media services, the first disposable cell phone and the licencing of technology like CDMA, GSM and WIFI, says they are excited to be the exclusive agent for FDA submission.

Njoy announced today they will no longer carry flavors in the US market, save for tobacco and menthol. Why? Because that's what the law requires for regular cigarettes and they are trying to cut the feet out from under the insane argument that "Electronic Cigarettes are marketed to kids".

While I understand their reasoning, it infuriates me to see Njoy and the others forced to cave. Politically it's probably a good move. Anti smoking activists have convinced people that if something tastes good, it must be for kids. But I disagree and I grow tired of seeing this argument not only repeated but successful time and time again.

Chalk up another victory for drug company funded activist anti smoking groups. They are proving the old adage "if you just keep repeating it, it becomes the truth."

Why is this agrument making sense to people? An ecigarette that costs $100 is for kids because it comes in flavors?

Njoy said:

Though electronic cigarettes have a price point generally considered beyond the reach of most youth and there is not widespread evidence of the products being used by underage smokers, a number of pertinent issues have been raised regarding underage persons, such as the appeal of various flavors.

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Today Njoy, a leading electronic cigarette manufacturer announced they will be discontinuing the sale of any flavored nicotine cartridges except tobacco and menthol in the US market to bring their offerings in line with the requirements of traditional cigarettes by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. They anticipate the new flavor policy to be in full force by spring 2010. 

Jack Leadbeater, CEO of Njoy said "Electronic cigarettes represent a smoking alternative for adult committed smokers. We have no interest in marketing or selling our products to underage smokers and have taken numerous steps over the years to prevent youth access to our products. We hope other members of our industry will act responsibly and either follow our lead or innovate even better methods to ensure proper product use.”

The company further outlined the steps they have already taken to discourage the underage use of Electronic Cigarettes, including:

Over at e-cigarette-forum.com we are having a bit of a heated discussion, which is not unusual. It is a great place for vapers, suppliers, manufacturers and activists to get together and hash things out. It's one reason I enjoy it there. I may even get in trouble for some of my thoughts since it's very against the rules to link to any health claims, doctor quotes or to say "might help you quit smoking" but I hope I don't get into too much trouble, for it is an important topic to discuss.

Im not saying "Electronic Cigarettes Help you Quit Smoking". What I am saying is you should be able to say that they can, if it's true. And I'm questioning the level of scientific proof one needs in order to state the obvious or personal experience.

I made a comment:

And Lacey is right, you do have to give some concessions, saying they help quit smoking, while completely accurate and true, gives our opponents fodder to shoot us with. She responded to Mac very well.

But where is the line? I"m not sure there is one, but where might it be?

We said "they help you quit smoking" they said "that is NRT territory and needs proof" so we stopped.

A few weeks ago I reported on an undercover sting operation conducted by KSHB-TV in Kansas City, (an NBC affiliate) where they caught a couple of e-cig retailers letting kids try them at the mall. Now there is a new story in Arizona, from TV ABC15.

And guess what? It's the same guy from Kansas. Same quotes, same everything. It's the same exact story almost down to the letter.

From the original story in Kansas:

The Monitor recently published an article titled "Are e-cigarettes really safer?" and while I do have to say they are one of the few i've seen recently who tried to get both sides of the story, I did have a few comments to share about some of the quotes. I thought I'd post them here as well.

Over all it is a good article, they actually talk to some e-cig supporters and manufacturers, something the main stream media doesn't seem to see the need to do. But, of course, the anti smoking groups have their talking points well rehearsed and a few statements made it into the article which, in my opinion, were not fully accurate.

Here are my thoughts:

Looking for that perfect gift for the smoker in your life? Tired of giving ashtrays, lighters, and cigarette cases as Christmas gifts for the smokers you love? Why not give them the best gift of all and help them become smoke free? Get them an electronic cigarette.

We all know that hard to buy for smoker, the one who refuses to quit, refuses to even discuss the matter. Uncle John or Grandpa Joe, who shows up to Christmas dinner stinking up the place or sneaking out to sit alone on the porch sucking on his cigarette while the entire family wonders "will this be our last holiday with him?"

The perfect gift for smokers, the electronic cigarette

The electronic cigarette is the perfect gift for smokers. Yes, it does nothing to curb their addiction to nicotine, but it does get rid of the 4000 toxic chemicals and cancer causing agents in cigarette smoke, It frees them from the tar and frees you from suffering the second hand smoke and the stink. And who knows, with thousands of electronic cigarette users proclaiming they quit smoking entirely after using ecigs, perhaps this could be the first important step to get your loved ones off nicotine forever.

This holiday season, instead of a present that supports their habit and encourages them to smoke, give the best gift of all for the smokers you love and take smoke out of their lives.