Health Canada does not allow smokers to switch from the tobacco cigarettes to electronic cigarettes.
That’s despite the fact scientists like Professor Michael Siegel estimate that electronic cigarettes could be between 100 and 1000 times safer than regular cigarettes.
In a statement which portrayed a (deliberate?) ignorance of the product, Health Canada stated:
“Although these electronic smoking products may be marketed as a safer alternative to conventional tobacco products and, in some cases, as an aid to quitting smoking, electronic smoking products may pose risks such as nicotine poisoning and addiction.”
Nicotine Addiction
Numerous studies have shown that e-cigarettes deliver less nicotine than cigarettes. And as smokers are already addicted to nicotine, it seems ridiculous to stop smokers from using the device on the basis of addiction.
Nicotine Poisoning
But what about the danger of nicotine poisoning?
And how many deaths does nicotine poisoning account for?
I checked with Paul Bergen of TobaccoHarmReduction.org and he told me that according to data from the American Association of Poison Control Centres deaths from nicotine poisoning are as follows:
2004: 0
2005: 0
2006: 0
2007: 0
2008: 0
(Of course, there was the boy who nearly died last year – after being given nicotine gum by evil nicotine peddlers anti-smoking advisors.)
Is nicotine really the problem?
But let’s just assume nicotine is as bad as Health Canada says it is.
If nicotine is so bad, why does Health Canada, in almost the same breath, recommend nicotine products manufactured by pharmaceutical companies:
“Health Canada has authorized the sale of a number of smoking cessation aids, including nicotine gum, nicotine patches, nicotine inhaler, and nicotine lozenges.”
But the real reason can not be ignorance about the dangers of the nicotine in e-cigarette.
Because when I telephoned Health Canada on behalf of a Canadian user who had been forced back to tobacco cigarettes after his e-cigarette had been confiscated, they told me that even zero-nicotine electronic cigarette kits could not be sold.
So, what’s the real reason for the ban, Health Canada?
Also see: Health Canada takes on the anti-tobacco industry on the Tobacco Harm Reduction blog.
Tags: health canada, nicotine
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I see your point about nicotine. But the problem is no-one knows what else is in e-cigarettes.
NJOY have had full lab. analysis by independant USA lab. Analyze showing no harmful constituents. The content is of course also fully disclosed as per legal requirements on the labelling. There has not been ONE reported case of harm since the inception of the product.
As Jean pointed out, NJOY and other manufacturers of the liquid included in e-cigarettes have had full lab analyses done. And some manufacturers list the ingredients right on the packaging. Most of these lists include around seven ingredients.
Now, can you tell me what else is in a regular cigarette? Here’s a hint: the list includes about 4,000 chemicals, including formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, tar, arsenic, ammonia, and sulfuric acid.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out which is the safer of the two.
Looking at Johnson Creek in the US, you can find an example of good quality, and properly marketed e-juice or as they call it smokers juice. FDA registered, and in my opinion leading the way in how this should be marketed. Proper labels showing warnings and listing ingredients with child proof caps. They have nothing to hide and do a great job from what I can see. However because they are a responsible company, they will not sell to anyone in Canada as they respect our laws. That leaves anyone that wants to use an e-cigarette to get what they can where they can.
Health Canada needs to allow the import and sales of e-cigarettes. Regulate the product, but allow it… in my opinion.
FDA registered or FDA approved? I seem to remember Johnson Creek getting into trouble in the past with the FDA.
That would be FDA registered last time I looked. If correct, the FDA is still working on the guidelines for what they would call approved. Being registered is basically just saying that they let FDA know that they make it.
The problem they had with FDA was back in Sept 2010 when FDA was flexing it’s muscle to restrict the activities of e-cigarettes and juices. I read the letter (it’s posted on-line) and it does ask them to have better testing in place as they were calling it a pharmaceutical product. I am not sure that still applies after the FDA lost in the courts and have now agreed that e-cigarettes are not a medical device and will be regulated like a tobacco product.
From what I have researched Johnson Creek are one of the good guys. They have a video walk-through of their lab which was nice to see.
Now after that long winded opinion, let me say that I have no problem with Health Canada stepping up and setting standards (reasonable ones)… just as long as they do allow the sales and imports.
You just have to be careful saying FDA registered, as people read it as approved sometimes.
Agreed, it is not the same and they do post a note to clarify that. There are a lot of responsible suppliers and while I have not seen the product of all (living in Canada, eh) I suspect most will be providing high quality product in safe packaging to other places than Canada.
With the recent arrest and seizure last month, HC shutting down suppliers, there will be little hope for people in Canada to make use of the e-cigs. I can hardly wait to hear about the black market ring that will be created to supply nicotine and the upcoming problems with people trying to make their own juices.
It really does sadden me as I have people I care about that HC allows to poison with tobacco, but bans the much safer alternative…. even when they know better. The politicians turn a blind eye and more people will die of cancer because of this.
Sorry if this seems a bit harsh, but if you really think about what they are doing to our country, it is sickening.
Dec. 8/11 = 11: 14 pm
I don’t know why no one will just say it….. The reason Canada won’t approve this AWESOME NICOTINE INHALER is because it’s so close to smoking a real cigarette BUT WITHOUT ALL THE HARMFUL CRAP…. That they are afraid EVERYONE will QUIT smoking traditional smokes and put all the tobacco companies out of business, which means the GOVERNMENT won’t get their MONEY from the sales tax.
CAN YOU IMAGINE? All cigarette companies out of business…. I say AWESOME. If I could buy this in my local stores right now, I’d be a healthier person today and TOBACCO FREE!
If the FDA doesn’t approve this soon, I will be forced to sue them and all tobacco companies for my poor health due to SMOKING their da*m tobacco products. The government allows NICOTINE INHALERS so what’s so different from these ELECTRIC NICOTINE INHALERS????
CANADA…. WAKE UP!!! and smell the… clean fresh air…. because there’s no more SMOKE in it.!!!!!!!
Bring on the lawsuit, Jean, it might shake things up a bit!