I got a PM from Nyxie informing me that my state (Tennesee) is trying to ban e-cigs and their derivatives and so I decided to write my senators and congressmen. Here is what I have sent them.
Anyone else who has run into the same thing, give your opinion or post what you have written.
Dear Honorable, Senator XXXX,
My name is xxxxxxxx. I am 51 years old, been married almost 25 years, have a college aged son, am a law abiding citizen who pays his taxes and I work as a school psychologist for Knox County Schools in Knoxville, TN. I just wanted to let you know that I think that the proposed ban on electronic cigarettes in Tennesee is based on ignorance and is unfounded. Unfortunately, I was a smoker for 30 years, reaching 2 packs of cigarettes a day. I tried everything to quit smoking but was unsuccessful. Then I discovered electronic cigarettes a little over 3 months ago. I tried them with the intent to cut down on smoking (smoking had become very expensive plus the health risks). I know that these are not smoking cessation devices, but my experience has been that after awhile I had no desire to smoke a cigarette anymore- something that I never believed would happen for me!! . I hate that the FDA is trying to ban e-cigarettes. The FDA, so far has not been able to control the regular cigarette companies as the companies won't reveal what is in their cigarettes, claiming that it would be a "trade secret" revealed if they did. Truth of the matter is, that even as I used the nicotine delivery devices (e-cigs), I still "detoxed" from regular cigarettes as I still went through withdrawals, but the nicotine helped to deal with this... I believe that cigarettes have many more addictive and addictive chemicals in them (not to mention carcinogens) than they did just a few years ago. Anyway, the nicotine helped and I'm much better off for having the e-cig to help me with this. I feel 100% better. And because of them, I have not touched a real cigarette in 3 months. My sense of taste and smell have returned and I find regular cigarettes offensive now. My health is better. My clothes and car don't smell...I don't smell!! I breath better, sleep better, and sex with my wife is better!! I have more energy!! My health is much better- I can tell!!. In fact, I just went for my semi-annual dental appointment yesterday and my dentist asked me what I was doing differently. My gums and teeth, according to him, were much better than before- in just in a few months- and I had very little plague and staining on my teeth. I told him about my e-cig switch from cigarettes and he wanted to know more about them so he could recommend them to his smoking patients. So, what's the deal with the new proposed bill? It is crazy that something that is less of a health risk than cigarette smoking could become illegal. I oppose it with all that I am and know, from personal experience, that if I had continued to smoke, my health would have continued to deteriorate and most likely I would not have been able to kick the smoking habit. The electronic cigarettes have helped me overcome the addiction to regular cigarettes. I hope that you take a good look at this bill and make a decision on informed and experienced opinion rather than what is "thought" to be the reality of these devices and the "juice" that is used in them. When I "vape" electronic cigarettes, I know that I am getting nicotine and nothing more- not the 4000 unknown carcinogens that are known to be in cigarettes, and this doesn't include the TAR which is a huge part of cigarettes that you smoke- as the substance they put in them is burned and not vaporized like the liquid is in e-cigs. I know this because I now buy 100% (made in USA) nicotine juice (in diffferent mg amounts) and dilute this myself and add some flavors to the juice. You might say that I wouldn't know what I'm getting in my "juice," because the FDA studied "juice" a few years ago and found harmful substance, but their study was about some company that was exporting the "juice" from China. What I get is 100% from the U.S. and the nicotine is extracted here in this country- my understanding is that there are only 3 or so companies here doing this right now. So, why can't tobacco growers grow for the the purpose of nicotine extraction if this is all about keeping them in business? It would be much better than selling to "big tobacco" and continuing to hurt the health of their fellow Americans. There are many flaws with the FDA study and extreme generalizations are being made from it. Anyway, I don't see the FDA approving these devices, so if the bill is tied to the FDA approving or not approving the electronic cigarette, then we who use these devices in Tennessee are doomed form the onset. Please let us be. I think that you will see in the next few years a huge upsurge in the use of these devices to finally get the American public off of cigarettes and to improve their health. In fact, in the schools where I work, I have already turned several teachers and other workers onto electronic cigarettes and they have all quit smoking regular cigarettes, even after many attemped and failed years of trying to quit smoking. All of them say that their health is much improved and that they feel much better. If you look at the research, there is not one person who has died from electronic cigarette use. What about regular cigarette use? I certainly hope that you take into consideration the personal experiences of those who have tried and continue to use electronic cigarettes. It's not that they are "cool" or "shiek," or want an excuse to "smoke" in public. These are not the same as smoking...they are much safer! I don't care if they are banned in public places like bars- I would gladly take them outside. Of course, they have hardly any odor at all- what they produce is just vapor, but that's not the point. Of all the people who I know that use them, no one has had any ill effects (like smoking) and ALL have been able to either curb their regular smoking, if not completely stop smoking because of them. I know that e-cigs cannot be advertised as cessation devices- and rightfuly so, but that's the reality of them (they do work!), at least for me and EVERYONE I know who has used them. So finally, do a search on the saftey of these devices (independent of the FDA report, which I belive is flawed). I will be willing to bet that you will not find one report that says that these devices are actually harmful. I am a stickler about these things. I did my research and was not willing to try an e-cig until I was totally convinced of this. So, why the ban? If they are banned in Tennesee, people will go back to cigarettes and you will continue to help perpetuate the health problems associated with smoking. My hope is that others who have used or are in the process of using these electronic cigarette devices willl also write in and tell you much the same thing that I have just written. I have not been to any website to gather what to write to you- I am just writing you from my heart. I pray earnestly to our dear Lord that you will not allow this ban to happen. Thank you for taking the time to read my long email.
Best Regards,
xxxxxxx, Knoxville, TN
Please feel free to contact me at xxxxxxx@comcast.com or to call me anytime 865-xxx-xxxx
P.S. A good place to find information out about these devices is the electronic cigaratte forum: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com I find it interesting that there is a section on the forum specifically for health care providers and doctors. The forum has a membership of close to 60,000 members and is the largest of its kind on the internet.
Anyone else who has run into the same thing, give your opinion or post what you have written.
Dear Honorable, Senator XXXX,
My name is xxxxxxxx. I am 51 years old, been married almost 25 years, have a college aged son, am a law abiding citizen who pays his taxes and I work as a school psychologist for Knox County Schools in Knoxville, TN. I just wanted to let you know that I think that the proposed ban on electronic cigarettes in Tennesee is based on ignorance and is unfounded. Unfortunately, I was a smoker for 30 years, reaching 2 packs of cigarettes a day. I tried everything to quit smoking but was unsuccessful. Then I discovered electronic cigarettes a little over 3 months ago. I tried them with the intent to cut down on smoking (smoking had become very expensive plus the health risks). I know that these are not smoking cessation devices, but my experience has been that after awhile I had no desire to smoke a cigarette anymore- something that I never believed would happen for me!! . I hate that the FDA is trying to ban e-cigarettes. The FDA, so far has not been able to control the regular cigarette companies as the companies won't reveal what is in their cigarettes, claiming that it would be a "trade secret" revealed if they did. Truth of the matter is, that even as I used the nicotine delivery devices (e-cigs), I still "detoxed" from regular cigarettes as I still went through withdrawals, but the nicotine helped to deal with this... I believe that cigarettes have many more addictive and addictive chemicals in them (not to mention carcinogens) than they did just a few years ago. Anyway, the nicotine helped and I'm much better off for having the e-cig to help me with this. I feel 100% better. And because of them, I have not touched a real cigarette in 3 months. My sense of taste and smell have returned and I find regular cigarettes offensive now. My health is better. My clothes and car don't smell...I don't smell!! I breath better, sleep better, and sex with my wife is better!! I have more energy!! My health is much better- I can tell!!. In fact, I just went for my semi-annual dental appointment yesterday and my dentist asked me what I was doing differently. My gums and teeth, according to him, were much better than before- in just in a few months- and I had very little plague and staining on my teeth. I told him about my e-cig switch from cigarettes and he wanted to know more about them so he could recommend them to his smoking patients. So, what's the deal with the new proposed bill? It is crazy that something that is less of a health risk than cigarette smoking could become illegal. I oppose it with all that I am and know, from personal experience, that if I had continued to smoke, my health would have continued to deteriorate and most likely I would not have been able to kick the smoking habit. The electronic cigarettes have helped me overcome the addiction to regular cigarettes. I hope that you take a good look at this bill and make a decision on informed and experienced opinion rather than what is "thought" to be the reality of these devices and the "juice" that is used in them. When I "vape" electronic cigarettes, I know that I am getting nicotine and nothing more- not the 4000 unknown carcinogens that are known to be in cigarettes, and this doesn't include the TAR which is a huge part of cigarettes that you smoke- as the substance they put in them is burned and not vaporized like the liquid is in e-cigs. I know this because I now buy 100% (made in USA) nicotine juice (in diffferent mg amounts) and dilute this myself and add some flavors to the juice. You might say that I wouldn't know what I'm getting in my "juice," because the FDA studied "juice" a few years ago and found harmful substance, but their study was about some company that was exporting the "juice" from China. What I get is 100% from the U.S. and the nicotine is extracted here in this country- my understanding is that there are only 3 or so companies here doing this right now. So, why can't tobacco growers grow for the the purpose of nicotine extraction if this is all about keeping them in business? It would be much better than selling to "big tobacco" and continuing to hurt the health of their fellow Americans. There are many flaws with the FDA study and extreme generalizations are being made from it. Anyway, I don't see the FDA approving these devices, so if the bill is tied to the FDA approving or not approving the electronic cigarette, then we who use these devices in Tennessee are doomed form the onset. Please let us be. I think that you will see in the next few years a huge upsurge in the use of these devices to finally get the American public off of cigarettes and to improve their health. In fact, in the schools where I work, I have already turned several teachers and other workers onto electronic cigarettes and they have all quit smoking regular cigarettes, even after many attemped and failed years of trying to quit smoking. All of them say that their health is much improved and that they feel much better. If you look at the research, there is not one person who has died from electronic cigarette use. What about regular cigarette use? I certainly hope that you take into consideration the personal experiences of those who have tried and continue to use electronic cigarettes. It's not that they are "cool" or "shiek," or want an excuse to "smoke" in public. These are not the same as smoking...they are much safer! I don't care if they are banned in public places like bars- I would gladly take them outside. Of course, they have hardly any odor at all- what they produce is just vapor, but that's not the point. Of all the people who I know that use them, no one has had any ill effects (like smoking) and ALL have been able to either curb their regular smoking, if not completely stop smoking because of them. I know that e-cigs cannot be advertised as cessation devices- and rightfuly so, but that's the reality of them (they do work!), at least for me and EVERYONE I know who has used them. So finally, do a search on the saftey of these devices (independent of the FDA report, which I belive is flawed). I will be willing to bet that you will not find one report that says that these devices are actually harmful. I am a stickler about these things. I did my research and was not willing to try an e-cig until I was totally convinced of this. So, why the ban? If they are banned in Tennesee, people will go back to cigarettes and you will continue to help perpetuate the health problems associated with smoking. My hope is that others who have used or are in the process of using these electronic cigarette devices willl also write in and tell you much the same thing that I have just written. I have not been to any website to gather what to write to you- I am just writing you from my heart. I pray earnestly to our dear Lord that you will not allow this ban to happen. Thank you for taking the time to read my long email.
Best Regards,
xxxxxxx, Knoxville, TN
Please feel free to contact me at xxxxxxx@comcast.com or to call me anytime 865-xxx-xxxx
P.S. A good place to find information out about these devices is the electronic cigaratte forum: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com I find it interesting that there is a section on the forum specifically for health care providers and doctors. The forum has a membership of close to 60,000 members and is the largest of its kind on the internet.
