Electronic Cigarette Spot

I was doing a little research to see the public's reaction after last Friday's FDA letters to the five ecig manufacturers claiming violations of the FDCA in regards to unsubstantiated medical claims in their marketing and, as usual, the forums are abuzz with outrage, debate and some intelligent arguments... and a few not so intelligent ones. Ah, well, such is the ecig Internet.

One post that caught my eye though was over at the ECF, the e-cigarette-forum.com, arguably the largest ecig forum in history. It's also one that more than a few of us have had issues with in the past because of their very strict "no medical claims" policy. Basically, if you profit from ecigs in any way and make any comments on your website they deem inappropriate or reference or discuss any medical studies, doctor quotes, news articles or say ecigs might help you quit using tobacco, or if any of the ecig makers you reference, are affiliated with or advertise on your website make any such claims they don't like, you are banned banned banned. Seems reasonable right? After all we don't want the FDA to ban ecigs based on unsubstantiated claims.

Save the Electronic Cigarette!! As actisim finally starts to heat up around the industry I've been very critical that many retailers and manufacturers have not done enough to point their customers towards the many petitions various folks have written or to send them to the requests for comments at places like the all important FDA. I think mostly it's that they do not wish to alarm the average customer or feel that it's none of their business to be activists or perhaps they fear it may bring unwanted attention by the FDA or anti smoking groups.

Honestly, I really don't know why many have not joined the fight. It's the retailers who have the email lists of all the vapers of the world. It's they who could most quicky mobilize all the vapers, not just those who find the handful of forums or sites like this. It is the retailers and manufacturers who make the most off ecigs and could band together to hire some professional Public Relations folks to help us combat the pros our enemies own.

Over at the Electronic Cigarette Forum's Smoking Everywhere V. FDA Daily Docket Sheet Update there has been great debate this week about how the vaping community should respond and proceed after the U.S. Court of Appeals sided with the FDA in the Smoking Everywhere vs FDA case resulting in a stay of Judge Leon's previous ruling denying their jurisdiction over ecigs until at least September when the court will hear arguments and make a final ruling.

Needless to say most people are outraged, some are confused and sadly many of those the vaping community looks up to as leaders have been arguing with each other instead of taking action while some vendors seem to be finally ready to challenge the FDA themselves.  

As usual in matters this important regarding things I've taken hours to consider and write my thoughts about, I figured I'd share here as well.

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.

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