CRE filed comments on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ proposed rule to counter the smuggling and sale of contraband cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. Key points raised by ATF in their NPRM were:
1. Cigarette smuggling profits fund terrorism and other deadly criminal groups.
2. Counterfeit cigarettes pose health hazards over and above those of genuine cigarettes.
3. Illegal cigarette trafficking makes it easier for children to smoke.
CRE’s comments informed the ATF about the contemplated ban on menthol cigarettes and noted that, “if enacted, a ban would create enormous demand for contraband menthol cigarettes, a product preferred by over 18 million people, or one-third of adult cigarette smokers.
CRE advised ATF to brief FDA and the TPSAC regarding how they believe such a ban would affect contraband cigarette issues including health issues and threats to the health of non-smokers from smuggling-related crime.
TPSAC has discussed the need to obtain experts on contraband — they need not hire a consultant– instead they should obtain the services of the Federal agency with the greatest expertise of contraband tobacco, ATF.
CRE’s forthcoming White Paper on contraband will include ATF materials.
Attached are CRE’s comments to ATF
So the arguments against vaporizing by the FDA are 1) Cigarette smuggling profits fund terrorism and other deadly criminal groups 2) Counterfeit cigarettes pose health hazards over and above those of genuine cigarettes, and 3) Illegal cigarette trafficing makes it easier for children to smoke.
First off, I despise vaporizors being referred to as an electronic ‘Cigarette’ or counterfeit cigarette. It implies tobacco product is being used, where there is none.
Taking a look at the contentions, in order.
1. Cigarette smuggling profits fund terrorism and other deadly criminal groups.
The only terrorist, deadly criminal groups being funded are tobacco companies and the FDA. And they are funded by a currently legal product, tobacco. They don’t want their revenue source (ie: cigarette smokers) to dry up. It’s okay with them if their tobacco products kill the same people funding their very existance, but it’s not okay with them for addicts to survive and escape their pickpocketing reach in the process. How long will it be before they realize shouting the word ‘terrorist’ will not instantly frighten people into believing whatever message they are trying to make you accept (or smoke)?
Throughout my journey to obtain vaporizing equipment and liquids, I did not die! I did not see the people who sold me the products die. I did not kill anyone to obtain vaporizing equipment and liquid. I certainly hope my vendors refrained from such behavior. The point is, no one died. I’m actually quite happy. I thank the FDA for their concern regarding my health.
I did not smuggle, and neither did my vendors. Smuggling implies illegality. There is nothing illegal about using a vaporizer to get nicotene into my body in a cleaner, safer delivery system than cigarettes. Which brings me to FDA contention number 2.
2. Counterfeit cigarettes pose health hazards over and above those of genuine cigarettes.
The liquid I buy for vaporizing lists all of the ingredients on the label, along with the percentage each item is used for the liquid. The percentages of all listed ingredients add up to 100%. Look at a food label in your grocery store. Many products you buy to eat don’t list ingredients totaling 100%. The label you read in the grocery store is mandated by… the FDA. And they don’t require ingredient listings to equal 100%.
There are 13 ingredients in the liquid I buy. They are all products found in consumer foods or used in medical inhalers, with the exception of the nicotene which is classified as a poison. A poison that is allowed for consumption by the FDA in the form of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
I am inhaling 13 substances when I use a vaporizer, where none of the substances cause cancer – not even the nicotene causes cancer. Nicotene rather behaves remarkably like caffeine.
When I used to smoke FDA approved cigarettes, I inhaled about 4,0000 ingredients, approximately 70 of which have been identified to cause cancer.
Of the approximately 4,000 ingredients in a cigarette, *ONE* ingredient is listed by name on it’s packaging: Tar. If cigarettes are so much safer than vaporizing, why is it they refuse to force tobacco companies to fully state the list of ingredients in them?
Does it seem a reasonable argument that a product with 13 fully disclosed ingredients might not “pose health hazards over and above” the roughly 4,000 *UNDISCLOSED* ingredients found in a cigarette? The only other labels on cigarette packaging warns that you will probably die due to the ingredients in cigarettes if you smoke them long enough, or cause your children to be born with defects or health problems, or both. The mention of children here leads me directly to contention number 3.
3. Illegal cigarette trafficking makes it easier for children to smoke.
Why does the FDA pretend to be concerned about children, when the tobacco products they endorse can cause birth defects or other health problems for these same children they now try to use in an argument in their favor?
Vaporizing is not illegal. Nor is buying or selling of vaporizing equipment and liquids. Again, it is not an electronic cigarette. It is a vaporizer. Vendors expressly state you must be of legal adult age to buy their products, in a respectful nod to laws governing tobacco. Vendors also clearly state to keep the products away from children and pets.
I am over 18. Do not treat me like a child. And stop it with these childish arguments.