New from Steve K's Vaping World:
Welcome to another exciting e-cigarette news roundup. Maybe I should say enormous e-cigarette news roundup. Dominating this weeks news is the media’s new obsession with e-liquid and potential poisonings. Of course there’s plenty more items to read about too. I’ll just get out of your way and let you tear into this week’s e-cigarette news.
More Levelheaded Article About Poisonings
Despite the clearly linkbait-y title, the OC register ran an article that took a more even keeled approach to the subject of accidental nicotine exposure with e-liquid. While there were still some issues with the article (fact: e-liquid does not taste as good as it sounds), it was much less sensationalist than the article that inspired it.
Toxic e-cig ‘juice’ can appeal to children
The Media on Unfounded Negative eCig Press
Lest you think all media outlets simply parrot any old inane nonsense that comes from activists parading around as scientists, there are a few outlets that see through the smoke. The Knoxville Business Examiner recently published an article taking to task many of the sources of the negative press we’ve been seeing lately.
Unfounded reports being used to discourage electronic cigarette use
House Dems Join Senators in Screaming eCig Ad Ban
It seems now that it’s not just Senators screaming for restrictions on e-cigarettes “for the kids.” Now a group of House democrats are introducing a similar bill that would give the job of determining exactly what constitutes marketing to kids to the FTC. I’m sure having the people in charge of patrolling anti trust are suited for the job of figuring out whether or not cotton candy e-liquid is enjoyed by adults.
House Dems float e-cig bill
CASAA: Call to Action! Ohio Tax on E-Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco
CASAA: Call to Action! Ohio’s Governor Kasich is Proposing a Tax on E-Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco at an Outrageous 49% of Wholesale
Public Vaping Ban in Philly
It looks like the City of Brotherly Love joins the sadly growing list of big cities that thing they’re way too cool for vaping.
Philly Council Bans E-Cigarettes
South Fla. TV Stations Reluctant to Air Blu Ad
An oddly specific blog dedicated to South Florida gossip ran a story that most TV stations in the area refused to run e-cigarette ads. Except for one. The local Fox affiliate which has, gasp, previously run positive e-cigarette stories will be running the ads on their airwaves.
EXCLUSIVE: E-Cigarette Ads Rejected by All Local Television Stations – Except For Fox Affiliate WSVN!
UK's Skycig becomes Blu Cig
Skycig was recently acquired by Lorillard, parent of blu Cigs. In order to keep everyone in the same, happy family, Skycig will soon become Blu Cigs in the UK.
<a class=”embedly-card” href=”http://www.designweek.co.uk/news/electronic-cigarette-company-skycig-becomes-blu-ecig/3038166.article”>Electronic cigarette company Skycig becomes Blu eCig</a>
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Another Kid and e-Liquid Story... With Such bad Reporting
There’s so much wrong with this report. There’s basic incorrect facts (e-liquid does not actually taste good, nor does one, even a toddler get addicted after one exposure). And then there’s the vape shop owner, who I’m hoping they just misquoted.
At least the parents learned a lesson and that they should keep e-liquid out of the reach of kids.
Oklahoma child falls sick after drinking e-cigarette juice
"We Don't Know" News Story #234,175
Look everyone, another random healthcare employee who doesn’t pay much attention to things about e-cigarettes getting press.
Health experts say more information is needed on effects of e-cigarette use | The Ranger, Riverton and Lander, Wyoming Daily Newspaper
MN Governor Not Hip on eCig Ban
Here’s some good news for the day.
Dayton splits with his health commissioner on regulations surrounding electronic cigarettes
eCigs to Transform Tobacco Markets
An interesting article popped up recently. In it, the author notes that it’s not just cigarette companies being changed by e-cigarettes. Farmers in tobacco growing areas are paying attention to the new trends as well as American companies considering the potential to get into the nicotine extraction business.
No longer blowing smoke? E-cigarettes could surpass traditional brands, experts say
Dem Senators at it Again, Turning up Stupid Level
I doubt anyone is surprised to learn the recent fear-mongering e-liquid is poison article has encouraged a group of US Senators to send out more letters. As an added bonus, they’ve sprinkled in a little bit of the 2009 FDA study, that was also essentially hyperbole.
Harkin, Six Senate Democrats Call on FDA to Regulate E-Cigarettes and Other Nicotine Delivery Products
Come for the Dumb Article, Stay for the Comments
A bad article gets a massive landslide of comments that are way more informed (and interesting) than the original post.
E-cigarettes: Not recommended for smoking cessation
That's a New Twist on the Antifreeze Theme
Sometimes you find the darnedest things in those local town meetings where they look to ban e-cigarettes. Like Independence, MO when a retired doctor testified that kids might put actual antifreeze in e-cigarettes. Haha, senior citizens.
Independence looks at e-cigarette ban
More Knocks Against the Old Gray Lady
I seem to be obsessed with the Times today. More like the rest of the world is. It heartens me to see other media outlets catching on to just how overblown the Times recent article truly is. Here’s one from the LA Weekly.
E-Cigarettes’ Nicotine Liquid Triggers Reefer Madness in the New York Times | The Informer | Los Angeles | Los Angeles News and Events | LA Weekly
A Look Inside DC Vapefest
With all the negative air around e-cigarettes lately, it’s nice to see this piece on the recent DC Vapefest published in the Washington Post. It gives you a feel for these types of events. And if you like the idea, Chicago Vapefest is coming up soon.
Vapefest: Where e-cigarette camaraderie is in the air – along with haze
Digital Trends Takes Down NY Times e-Liquid Freak-out Piece
At least not everyone is buying into the Times outrageous piece about e-liquid. Digital Trends has a piece that points out toothpaste is more dangerous than e-liquid in terms of how many poisonings there were.
Homepage
e-Cigarette Segment on the Today Show
In case you missed it, here’s the Today Show segment on e-cigarettes that ran Tuesday March 25, 2014. It’s turning out to be a long week so far.
Town Considers eCig Ban for Odd Reason
The Town of Orland Park is considering an e-cigarette ban. Because, screw mall vendors, that’s why!
Orland Park considering e-cigarette restrictions
Putting the e-Liquid Scare in Perspective
Here’s a nice rebuttal from Reason about the recent freakout over e-liquid that came to us courtesy the NY Times.
The New York Times Warns That Drinking E-Cigarette Fluid Could Become a Fatal Fad Among Toddlers
NY eCig Activist and Smoking Activist Group Sue City Over Ban
Russ Wishtart of Click, Bang! fame has joined up with New York based CLASH, a smoker’s rights group to sue the city of New York over their recent e-cigarette ban.
Smokers’ Rights Group Files Suit to Stop NYC Electronic Cigarette (E-Cig) Ban
e-Liquid Panic Sets off Congressional Crusader
Oh gee, look at that. The NY Times article about the evils of e-liquid have gathered the attention of one of the anti e-cigarette crusaders on Capitol Hill. Here’s what the Gentleman from Connecticut had to say about the latest media panic frenzy.
Read it here if you don’t believe me: linky
Monday, March 24, 2014
(Hartford, CT) – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) released the following statement in response to a report about the use of liquid nicotine in e-cigarettes, which has been linked to many poisonings.
“Exploding use – misuse and abuse – of liquid nicotine make federal regulation even more vital to stop poisoning and other public health hazards. Used to refill e-cigarettes, and sold over the Internet, liquid nicotine can be toxic in small quantities. Today’s New York Times report documents powerfully the dangers to children and adults alike. E-liquids are the new snake oil of cigarette marketing – with purity and potency varying widely, and no safeguards. The FDA must act immediately to forestall imminent public health threats from e-cigarettes and toxic nicotine e-liquids.”
UT: B&Ms Implement Age Verification Scanners
For those who still think the e-cigarette industry is targeting kids, they need to look no further than Utah. Local vape shops there have started implementing a handheld scanner designed to thwart punk ass kids with fake IDs.
Scanner can help stores verify age of e-cig buyers
Pittsburgh's Take on e-Cigarette Poisonings
Not wanting to miss out on the latest media frenzy, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette had to run its own story.
Poisonings related to e-cigarettes here
TN: The Trials and Tribulations of e-Cigarettes
The Times Free Press out of Chattanooga ran a lengthy piece about a recent bill that failed to gain traction in Tennessee. The bill would have defined e-cigarettes as separate from regular cigarettes. Despite efforts to encourage the bill, prohibitionist groups got their hooks into it and the legislation never made it out of committee.
Health, taxation questions envelop fast-growing e-cigarette industry
MN: eCig Usage Restrictions Bill Moves to Senate Floor
A plan to strip the e-cigarette usage ban provisions of a Minnesota clean air bill narrowly failed to pass in committee. A 7-6 vote against means a version of the bill with e-cigarettes classified as tobacco products moves to the state senate for consideration.
Plan to limit indoor e-cigarette use reaches Senate floor
Even Prohibitionists Getting Fed Up with Crap Research
It seems like prohibitionists are starting to turn on themselves.Turns out the bunk research they’re getting published in journals so desperately trying to prove ethereal gateway theories and deny what hundreds of thousands are people are saying about e-cigarettes might start hurting the credibility of groups like the ALA.
Do e-cigarettes help people quit smoking? New study raises doubts
Man Gets Ticket For Nonexistent Law
Ok, I’m a little late with this one, but apparently someone got a ticket for vaping in his car. That’d be shocking if there were actually a law on the books for that sort of thing.
Man Issued Traffic Ticket For Using Electronic Cigarette While Driving
NJ Drops All Pretense: eCig Tax All About the Benjamins
The battle over an excessive e-cigarette tax rages on in New Jersey. What seems to have changed, however, is that any notion that this tax is supposed to be for any sort of public health benefit has gone out the window. Lawmakers flat-out admit that if they don’t pass this trumped up sin tax, they’ll need to cough up 35 million bucks from somewhere else.
I guess you could call this a quitting tax instead of a sin tax.
Schaer: Budget Committee needs to find $35 million | Politicker NJ
e-Liquid: The Next Overhyped Media Sensation
Unfortunate statistics about increases in poison control calls about e-liquids have been mounting. It stands to reason as the e-cigarette markets grow, so would these numbers (although they are considerably lower than any other household chemical). With a recent article making the rounds in syndicated papers, it seems that e-liquid poisonings have gone from an unfortunate reminder, to getting the full-on fear mongering media treatment.
I will say that this is probably another good time to remind people to keep this stuff out of the reach of kids and pets. Especially your 55 gallon drum of 100mg/ml e-liquid.
E-cigarettes’ liquid drug can also kill
Deal of the Moment
Clearance eGo and EVOD Kits at Apollo
Apollo is blowing out their holiday eGo kits. It appears that they still have some of these kits to clear out. They have a ton of different options at steep discounts. It’s a good way to pick up a second eVod kit for a pretty spectacular price. Just visit the discounts section of their website, no coupon codes are required.
Click here to check it out.
Originally posted: e-Cigarette News Roundup 3-28 – Big Time
Steve K's Vaping World - The Electronic Cigarette Supersite