Ashtray Blog: An Electronic Cigarette Blog

My friend’s Grandad is 102 years old.

Until he was 100 years old he used to smoke a pipe and enjoy copious amounts of whisky. He also had a very sweet tooth, and consumed large amounts of sugar.

Now, gently fading away in an old people’s home, he is denied the right to smoke or drink.

At 102 he doesn’t really need to worry about his health. In fact, for the last ten years (after the death of his younger brother) he has expressed a wish to die. Only the pills force fed into his system keep him alive. It’s fair to say that drinking and smoking would be one of the few pleasures he could still enjoy – if he was allowed to.

We’ve got a few e-cigars in stock which we used to sell – I am going to send him one of those. It might not be as good as a pipe but hopefully he will still get some pleasure out of it.

Have you managed to quit smoking with the e-cigarette? If so, scientists in America want to hear from you.

The American Council on Smoking and Health are looking for smokers who have managed to quit using the electronic cigarette.

Dispatch: A question for our Dispatch readers

ACSH staffers would like to know if you or anyone you know has been able to use electronic cigarettes to kick your cigarette habit. Please send your responses to morning@acsh.org or tweet it to @JeffACSH.

Source: ACSH

Elizabeth Whelan, President of the ACSH (see our brief biography of her on our e-cigarette people page) has spoken out before in favour of the e-cigarette, and criticised the FDA’s stance in a Washington Post article.

The e-cigarette may not currently be marketed as an NRT aid, and there is no long term study that offers proof that it can help smokers quit. However, research has shown that it can increase the level of nicotine in the blood and help alleviate the symptons of nicotine cessation. Research due to start later this year in New Zealand will test its ability to help smokers quit in the long term.

Update: ACSH have already a large response according to their website: E-Cigs Bring ACSH E-Harmony.

Apologies to anyone who reads this blog on a regular basis – with two members of our team out on the road there hasn’t been much time for blogging recently! Which is a shame because, as always, there are interesting things happening…

Second Obesity More Dangerous than Second Hand Smoke

Grandad has been blogging about second-hand obesity – apparently you mustn’t get fat or those around you might catch your obesity! I was fascinated by the article which sparked Grandad off. In Anti-Smoking Tactics can Squeeze Obesity MD Thomas Gottfreid stated:

“A study of 35,561 spouses of smokers followed for 38 years published in the British Medical Journal in 2003 showed that second-hand smoke is an irritant, but does not cause life-threatening disease. Actually, “secondhand eating” may be more dangerous.”

This is doubly interesting because the doctor is no friend of smokers – it is clear that he applauds the use of anti-smoking tactics and indeed wants them to be replicated with fatty foods.

Vapers Network Daily

I found Grandad’s blog post on Vaper’s Network daily, a page on the Paper LI site created by Kate from Vaper’s Network – an excellent way to update yourself with what is going on in the vaping world.

Vape Fest

A vape fest is to be held in October of this year in Tamsworth. For details see the Vapefest site.

Smoking Everywhere

In the US Smoking Everywhere have been taken to court – not for selling the e-cigarette, but for not delivering it! The company has allegedly failed to deliver cigarettes, failed to refund payments and made unauthorized charges to credit cards.

Having failed in court, the big-business funded anti e-cigarette lobby is trying to enforce a ban on e-cigarettes on a state by state basis in the US.

These bans are often pushed through with only a couple of days notice, which is why The Vaper’s Coalition is asking for help.

The Vaper’s Coalition is asking vapers’ to do the following:

1. Attend the meetings whenever possible.
2. Spread the word about each and every ban – forums, blogs, emails, you tube, twitter and every other way you can think of. (If you have a blog, why not write a similar post and link to the Vaper’s Coalition.)
3. Let the Vaper’s Coalition know about it – they have a list of proposed bans on their front page.
4. Send emails – Vaper’s Coalition has prefilled emails you can complete.

It’s going to be a tough battle – but you have the support of e-cigarette smokers in the UK!

For more information visit the Vapers’ Coalition!

The following is reproduced from an email by Bill Godshall of  Smokefree Pennsylvania:

Smokefree Pennsylvania, The American Council on Science and Health (ACSH), Consumer Advocates for Smokefree Alternatives Association (CASAA), National Vapers Club, Midwest Vapers Group and Drs. Michael Siegel and Joel Nitzkin filed an Amicus Brief with the DC Court of Appeals yesterday in support of litigation filed by electronic cigarette marketers Smoking Everywhere and NJOY against the US FDA.

The brief encourages the Appeals Court to uphold District Court Judge Richard Leon’s ruling in January that denied FDA authority to ban the import of electronic cigarettes by classifying them as unapproved drug devices (unless a company markets its products using therapeutic claims), and to prompt the FDA to promulgate reasonable and responsible regulations for e-cigarettes as tobacco products in accordance with the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act enacted by US Congress last year.

Attached are our Unopposed Motion to Participate, and Brief of Amici Curiae, as well as a similarly supportive Brief of Amicus Curiae filed yesterday by the Washington Legal Foundation.

Per the two Citizens Petitions below, please urge the FDA to reasonably regulate e-cigarettes as tobacco products (instead of drugs or devices), and to truthfully inform smokers and the public that e-cigarettes (and other smokefree tobacc/nicotine products) are far less hazardous alternatives to cigarettes.

Bill Godshall
smokefree@compuserve.com

The Citizens Petition by the American Association of Public Health Physicians (AAPHP) urging the FDA to reclassify and regulate electronic cigarettes (nicotine vaporizers) as tobacco products (instead of trying to ban the products by classifying them as drugs or devices) is at http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#docketDetail?R=FDA-2010-P-0095

To submit a comment urging supportive action by the FDA, go to http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#submitComment?R=0900006480aa84a7

Suggested talking points:
- since e-cigarettes (nicotine vaporizers) are derived from tobacco, the FDA can legally reclassify and regulate them as “tobacco products”,
- by choosing to classify e-cigarettes as “drugs” or “devices”, the FDA was/is attempting to ban the products,
- hundreds of thousands of smokers already have significantly reduced their health risks by switching to e-cigarettes,
- if the FDA reasonably and responsibly regulated e-cigarettes as tobacco products, sales to minors would be prohibited, cigarette consumption/morbidity/mortality would decline more rapidly, and fewer taxpayers dollars would be spent by FDA protecting cigarette markets,
- in SE vs FDA, federal Judge Richard Leon has ruled that the FDA can regulate e-cigarettes as “tobacco products”, but not as “drugs” or “devices”,
- sales and use of e-cigarettes have continued to sharply increase despite the FDA’s ongoing attempt to ban the products,
- banning e-cigarettes would protect cigarette markets at the expense of consumer and public health,
- if applicable, describe your personal experience using e-cigarettes.

- – - -

The Citizens Petition by the American Association of Public Health Physicians (AAPHP) urging the FDA to clarify/correct inaccurate and misleading claims about electronic cigarettes (nicotine vaporizers) made at the FDA’s July 22, 2009 press conference, and to truthfully inform the public of existing evidence about the products is now available at http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#docketDetail?R=FDA-2010-P-0093

To submit a comment urging supportive action by the FDA, go to http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#submitComment?R=0900006480aa7cac

Suggested talking points:
- the FDA http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm172906.htm grossly mispresented its own laboratory test findings on two brands of e-cigarettes http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/ScienceResearch/UCM173250.pdf
- in contrast to claims made at the FDA’s press conference, there is no evidence that e-cigarettes have ever harmed any user or nonuser, and there is no evidence that e-cigarettes are marketed to youth,
- the FDA failed to acknowledge any evidence (sent to the agency) that e-cigarettes are far less hazardous alternatives to tobacco cigarettes, and that thousands of e-cigarette users informed the agency they had quit smoking by switching to the products,
- cigarette smokers have a human right to truthful information about, and legal access to, less hazardous alternatives,
- FDA officials have an ethical duty to protect consumer health and to provide truthful health risk information,
- if applicable, describe your personal experience using e-cigarettes.

According to Spike Babaian, President of the National Vaper’s Club, the FDA has twice put a stop to US research into the electronic cigarette on the pretext that the e-cigarette is a drug delivery device.

The second time the research was stopped occurred after a US high court judge had refuted FDA claims that the electronic cigarette was a drug delivery device.

Crucially, the studies, had the results been positive, would have provided further evidence against the FDA’s current appeal against Judge Leon’s judgement, part of which stated that the FDA had failed to prove that the e-cigarette provided any threat to public health.

See The National Vaper’s Club and the FDA for the full story.

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.

It was all DUO last month, with the 2in1 electronic cigarette kit out-stripping sales of all other kits! However, top sales goes to our (DUO!) refills.

1. NJOY DUO REFILLS

Position one goes to our very long lasting DUO refills!

NJOY DUO Refills.

We’ve lumped them together here, but their position in order of preference is:

High Nicotine
Medium Nicotine
Menthol Medium
Menthol High

2. DUO Electronic Cigarette Kits (2in1)

Our newest and most advanced electronic cigarette starter kit is also our most popular. The device features an advanced integrated atomiser and refill cartridge (known as a cartomiser), making changing cartridges a doddle and removing the need for fiddly atomisers.

NJOY DUO Electronic Cigarette Starter Kit

3. NJOY Pro White Electronic Cigarette Kit

We still sell a few NJOY Pro White kits – we’ve kept these on for now because customers who have bought our older kit recommend it to their friends, who then want the exact same model.

The NJOY Pro White Electronic Cigarette Kit.

4. The NIC Electronic Cigarette Kit

This is a super kit – along with the NJOY DUO it feels like smoking a real cigarettes – but it looks very different!

An NCIG E Cigarette.

5.

Electronic Cigarette Batteries

Check out these superb coloured batteries – just because it feels like a cigarette doesn’t mean it has to look like one!

Superb coloured batteries from NJOY.

6. Electronic Cigarette Car Ready Kit

Get amazing value with our NJOY car ready kit!

Get ready for the summer holidays with our car ready kit!

7. Leather Pouch

This stylish NJOY leather pouch will keep your trusty e-cigarette safe from the British weather!

Keep your e-ciggy safe and dry in this super leather pouch.

8. Car Charger

Charge while you drive, vape when you arrive! Also comes as part of our car ready kit.

Charge while you drive!

9. Metal Cases

These electronic cigarette metal cases provide a snug fit for your NJOY – check out the pics on our e-cigarette cases page!

These provide a snug fit for your NJOY e-cigarette.

10. Atomiser

We don’t sell as many of these as we used to, because most customers go for the NJOY DUO and these don’t require atomisers. (And did we mention all our products come with a one year warranty – meaning in the rare event of a failure you get the part repaired or replaced – for free!) However, some customers like the additional peace of mind that having a spare atomiser for their older NJOY PRO gives them.

A handy spare atomiser!

We have added a new flavour to our selection of refills!

ECigaretteDirect is now offering Vanilla flavour in our selection of NJOY DUO refills.

To check them out click here: Electronic Cigarette Vanilla Flavour!

NJOY!

Shattered here – we have rushed to complete and submit our submission to the MHRA after they suddenly changed the deadline from the 9th to the 8th. Luckily we got there in time (just!)

We have posted our full response here: MHRA Meeting Response.

We have added our own assessement of the likely impact of a defacto ban, and call upon the MHRA to conduct its own risk assessment of its policy impact.