One Un-smoker's opinion of e cigarettes...

The battle rages about e cigarettes.
Clearly now that the Tobacco Industry 
has embraced this product, we can 
assume that they see it as the stopgap 
for the decreasing numbers of smokers 
now fascinated by the new tech toy 
that delivers nicotine. It keeps the 
gestures of the addiction to smoking 
firmly in place. It encourages the 
perpetuation of the habit.                 

Almost no regulation of the nicotine-
based product is in place; yet numerous 
big cities (Boston, Chicago, New York, 
L.A., etc.) have banned public e cig use 
in the same manner that tobacco 
products are banned. Many towns 
across the western world are following 
suit. Yet the companies and advocates 
who are promoting e cigs are quick to
claim that they must be okay and safe 
since over a million people are now 
using them. 

Is that like guns are safe because 
myriads of people shoot them?

There are wild claims that electronic 
cigarettes are helping millions of 
people to quit smoking. Using screen 
stars and rockers to swagger with an 
arrogance about the right to use just 
seems like a lot of folks are getting 
paid off to say all of this is okay. Just 
like 40's and 50's cigarette advertising. 
Try pressing any doctors who are vocal 
e cig proponents, and we may find that 
they are also financially invested in 
seeing this product succeed; those who 
are pushing what some might call 
"magical science". It's all part of the 
strategy to reframe and re-profitize 
"the habit". E cigarette lobbyists are 
particularly creepy in their cavalier
proselytizing. Like a Fox News smile.

Those who have argued the benefits 

and have attacked my opinion 

directly grow eerily silent when I 

ask them which e cigarette company 

they work for. I look forward to the 

day when I am invited to hold forth 

with my point of view on a world 

stage; but I doubt the Industry has 

the stomach for that sort of 

embarrassment.

It's knowing that something's toxic, 

but seeing the fast money that stands 

to be made. 

In my research, which includes very 
little magical thinking, most of the 
electronic cigarette users I've spoken 
with also smoke tobacco...and are very 
touchy about being asked about this.
It's a 20 something hipster thing; yet

many flavors appeal to teens and

tweens. They discuss the "hipness" 

of the particular style, color and form 

of their e cigarettes and proclaim the 

product's safety, having not really 

researched it at all. Like their IPhone 

or Android, it's part of their "Tech 

Collection". They don't want to 
hear what's wrong with the picture.

I have a new name for an e cigarette 

brand. IMMORAL.

Because it's not about the truth; it's 

about telling you what you want to 

hear...because when it comes to

smoking, people are desperate to 

believe anything. We're safe!

Like I said...organic carrots, honey 

roasted peanuts, pistachios, crackers 

and cheese...break the bond...

After all...candy cigarettes ARE 
what all my buddies and I started on.

Now go outside and take a deep 

breath of fresh spring air...

repeat as necessary...