Electronic cigarettes are now on the verge of facing the same fate as traditional cigarettes made from tobacco.  Due to the heightened concerns of many groups and individuals, electronic cigarettes are now being considered by the government and the lawmakers to be categorized under tobacco products. This means that the devices, no matter how many former smokers testify that they were able to quit with the help of vaping, will soon be banned, restricted and controlled just like tobacco cigarettes.

Almost everyone stood witness to how tobacco industry has crumbled and suffered due to regulations. Revenues plummeted and a lot of people lost their jobs, yet, many smokers still continue with their habits.  Electronic cigarettes may be like traditional cigarettes in some ways, but they are considerably safer and better.

Smokers Know They Have A Better Option

Regardless of how the government and health agencies warn the public about the unknown dangers of these devices, smokers themselves are aware of what they want and what they need to do. They know that smoking is detrimental, but approved nicotine replacements in forms of patches and gums do not seem to work for them. They heard about electronic cigarettes, tried them and almost unbelievably, their cigarette dependency was reduced and gone quickly.

Paul Davey is the owner of Vapor Loft, an electronic cigarette store that debuted last 2012 in Orange County.  He used to smoke for 27 years and then bought his very first device via the internet.  After one week of vaping, he was able to stop smoking.  After one year, he put up the store. He not merely sells products to customers, but also tries his best with the use of his pharmaceutical background to educate anyone who enters his shop.  When he opened the store last year, Orange County only had about two stores of the same specialization. Now, there are about 60 of them selling the products and other accessories needed to vape. This means that the demand is getting higher, so the number of suppliers is also increasing.

Senate Bill 648

Others say that the politicians are only worried about the decreased in tax revenue because smokers would merely turn to electronic cigarettes rather than shoulder the high taxes charged on regular cigarettes.  Whatever reasons are making legislators alarmed with the increasing popularity of electronic cigarettes, one thing remains certain: they are pushing for a law that will regulate and restrict these products.  One excellent example is the senate bill drafted by Senator Ellen Corbett for the state of California in February. Senate Bill 648 will essentially classify electronic cigarettes as tobacco product; vapers will receive the same treatment as smokers.  The bill initially passed the state senate and is now awaiting Assembly vote.

Understandable Concerns Of Local Businesses

Jason Shaeffer is the owner of E-Cig City located in Laguna Beach the first ever store that opened in the county. Just like other electronic store owners, Schaeffer was also a smoker for 38 years.  According to him, most of the studies had a difficult time to prove that they are concrete and reliable in proving the negative effects of vaping.

Over 40 local shops contributed money in an effort to contest SB 648.  The money collected was used to hire a lobbyist to represent the industry and make a protest in Sacramento, yet their efforts failed.

According to government officials, what agitates them is the e-liquid or juice. In general, this juice, which is being turned to vapor, is composed of basic components: propylene glycol (or vegetable glycerin), nicotine and natural/artificial flavoring.  According to critics, secondhand vapor is as dangerous as secondhand tobacco smoke.  No regulations were issued yet by the FDA concerning this e-liquid.  Furthermore, what makes it interesting is that other nicotine replacement products approved by the FDA, like gums and patches, were sold before with labels that say they are not supposed to be used with other nicotine replacements or not to be used for an extended period of time.  When electronic cigarettes became quite popular, the agency has ripped off such warning labels, saying that it has understood how these products actually work.

Davey said that it is not surprising, both the government and tobacco firms are aware that electronic cigarette is such a potentially lucrative industry.  Nicotine is not bad like other people think. In fact, Davey added, nicotine is also present in many vegetables and fruits.  Davey was also among those local businesses that pitched in money to contradict SB 648; yet, he was doubtful they can defeat the bill.  The biggest fight that vapers must face is the misconception of non-smokers so they need to listen and hear out success stories from real people.

He also pointed out that another problem causing the stir is the misunderstanding of many people about devices used with nicotine and those that are used with medical marijuana.  Just by smelling the vapors, one can simply tell the difference.

What Local Businesses Are Now Doing

Anticipating government prying and also to show they are abiding citizens, many of the makers and the shops have started to self-regulate. One organization, AEMSA or American E-Liquid Manufacturing Standards Association, has come up with a protocol that juicers can follow to ensure safety.

Davy said that right now, DIY juices can order their ingredients online and follow the protocol in their own bathroom or kitchen. The procedure will tell the juicer about the quantity of nicotine to be used so as not to pose danger to anyone.

Popular juice makers like Meg Strousse (from Vape Goddess) and Kevin Drake (from Drake’s Vape) agree with AEMSA’s intention to offer guidelines to DIY juicers.  Yet, they and other professional juice makers prefer that juices be taken to the lab where they can also be tested.  According to Strousse, all ingredients they use are approved by the FDA.  Strousse also added that they ensure their working environment is sterile.

Drake, on the other hand, compares juice making to bartending.  He explains that in bartending, you also buy approved ingredients from a store so it is only common sense that you mix these ingredients in a safe, sterile area. While one does not necessarily need to have an expensive facility to make juice, it is just not appropriate that they are made in a bathtub.

Varied Levels Of Opposition To The Bill

Strousse, Drake and Davey all share similar animosity toward the bill. They are not so worried about the effects of limited vaping places where vapers can enjoy their stuff.  Shaeffer, on the other hand, is like others who are greatly worried about this.  Shaeffer said that with the approval and implementation of the bill, vapers will be pushed to vaped in the designated smoking area where they will also be exposed to secondhand smoke. He added that the potential of electronic cigarettes in saving lives is not realized by many. However, all of them are also worried about how far or what other steps the government would take to supervise the products.