Smoking is banned in many places but in NY, the use of electronic cigarettes may soon be banned. As of May 23, 2011, smoking was no longer allowed in the parks and beaches of New York. This was one of the reasons why the sales of electronic cigarettes skyrocketed in this state. Now, the BAD NEWS is that proposed bill A01468 of the New York State Assembly Health Committee seeks to BAN the SALES OF ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES in this state until the FDA approves the product as a smoking cessation device. This is necessitates a CALL TO ACTION.
The FDA approval will take 5 years or longer. If this bill comes into effect, electronic cigarettes can no longer be sold in New York, making it nearly impossible for their residents to use this alternative. Another foreseen effect is that e-cigarette users might be required to obtain a prescription to be able to buy electronic cigarettes which will escalate the price of these products.
This news report is alarming as once the electronic cigarette sale ban is imposed, it probably will have a nationwide effect. The other states might follow. For the next 5 years or more, those who use electronic cigarettes shall be placed in a position that will make it difficult to use this option and purchase any brand that they want. To top it all, the electronic cigarette industry will be place in a quandary, as their freedom will be placed on hold. The development of better electronic cigarettes shall be brought to a grinding halt as the manufactures have to battle out the red tape.
If you are a smoker and use these electronic devices as an alternative to cigarettes, cigars, and pipes, as an individual, your opinion can make a difference. Electronic cigarettes users must have one voice. According to the Consumer Advocates For Smoke Free Alternatives Association, here is the outline of the letter that you might want to send to STOP the BAN of ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE SALES:
What to say:
1. You want them to amend the bill to delete section “§ 17-721 Prohibitions on electronic cigarettes,” item “b” in “§ 17-722 Violations” and item “b” in “§ 17-723 Enforcement.” Also delete the text “and prohibiting electronic cigarettes from being used in certain public areas” from the title of the ordinance
2. Tell your story on how switching to an e-cigarette or smokeless tobacco has changed your life
3. Explain how smoking bans are enacted to protect the public from the harm of second-hand smoke, but electronic cigarettes have not been shown to cause harm to bystanders.
·In fact, all evidence to date shows that the low health risks associated with electronic cigarettes is comparable to other smokeless nicotine products.
·This is supported by research done by Dr. Siegel of Boston University, Dr. Eissenberg of Virginia Commonwealth and Dr. Laugesen of Health New Zealand and by the fact that the FDA testing, in spite of its press statement, failed to find harmful levels of carcinogens or toxic levels of any chemical in the vapor
4. Let them know that vapor does not behave in the same manner as smoke.
·There is no “side stream” vapor like the side stream smoke coming from the lit end of a cigarette and unlike cigarette smoke
·The vapor is virtually odorless and dissipates quickly.
·There is also no ash or litter.
·With so little evidence of use, enforcing indoor use bans on electronic cigarettes would be nearly impossible.
5. Inform them that the ability to use electronic cigarettes in public spaces will actually improve public health by inspiring other smokers to switch.
·Surveys of thousands of users indicate that the majority of those who switch very quickly completely replace tobacco cigarettes with the electronic cigarettes, reducing their health risks by 98-99%.
·So even if smokers think they are using electronic cigarettes just for indoor use, the chances are high that they will stop using tobacco cigarettes altogether
6. Tell them that by switching to a smokeless product, you have greatly reduced your health risks and if they truly deem second-hand smoke to be a danger, placing you back out in smoking areas simply puts you back in harm’s way.
You may send e-mails to the following people in the NY Health Committee:
arroyo@council.nyc.gov
dickens@council.nyc.gov
jferreras@council.nyc.gov
foster@council.nyc.gov
rmendez@council.nyc.gov
Joel.Rivera@council.nyc.gov
drose@council.nyc.gov
vallonejr@council.nyc.gov
jvanbramer@council.nyc.gov
avann@council.nyc.gov
fcabrera@council.nyc.gov
chin@council.nyc.gov
lander@council.nyc.gov
pkoo@council.nyc.gov
Take action now. Write that letter and send the emails out to stop the ban of electronic cigarettes.

Let freedom be your stand and let your voice be heard.