Utah Health Official Touts Benefit of Tobacco Cigarettes Over E-Cigarettes:

At Least You Know How Much Nicotine You're Getting?
By Dr. Michael Siegel
http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com

According to an article in the Deseret News, a Utah health official has touted as a benefit of regular cigarettes the fact that at least consumers know how much nicotine they are getting, in contrast with electronic cigarettes which the official contends will lead to ex-smokers just vaping away because they don't know how much nicotine to take in. The remarks were apparently made in the context of supporting a proposed state law that would ban the use of electronic cigarettes in public places.

According to the article: "Last summer, the Utah Department of Health adopted a rule banning the use of hookah and e-cigarettes in public places but has not enforced the rule awaiting legislative action on the issue. Manufacturers of electronic cigarettes claim the battery-powered device is safer than cigarettes, which use tobacco. However, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, e-cigarettes contain harmful levels of nicotine, a substance the agency classifies as a stimulant drug. "There is no safe level of tobacco smoke," said David Neville, spokesman for the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program at the Utah Department of Health. With tobacco cigarettes a user generally knows how much nicotine is being consumed. "They know if they are a half-a-pack-a-day smoker. When it comes to an electronic cigarette, you just don't know. You just keep on smoking," Neville said. The measure, which passed on a 45-31 vote, now moves to the Senate."

The bill would add electronic cigarettes to the state's existing ban on smoking in public places.

The Rest of the Story
This story demonstrates how ridiculous the arguments of anti-smoking advocates have become in trying to attack electronic cigarettes. They are now actually defending the real ones in an effort to cast dispersions on the much safer electronic ones....
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Facts about 'exploding' e-cigarettes from ECF

The administrator of the electronic cigarette community forum ECF (http://e-cigarette-forum.com) has responded to concerns from members and e-cigarette users about recent news of a man seriously injured when his e-cigarette "exploded" in his mouth. 

This information mostly addresses the type of e-cigarette called "mods." Mods are either user-modified or larger manufactured devices which typically use loose lithium-ion batteries rather than the sealed battery design of most mass-produced devices. While most "mods" are designed and built with all of the appropriate features to make them as safe or safer than mass-produced models; a very small number may not have the necessary safety features and could have a higher risk of a dangerous malfunction.

CASAA feels this is good information for e-cigarette users to know and encourages members to read the ECF message below and accompanying link to more information on ECF:

The simple, short-form version is this:

• It is only certain types of mods (XL specials) that are affected

• Only metal tube mods, with two batteries inserted, are affected

• Other types of mods are not affected

• Regular e-cigarettes are not affected (like the 510, KR808, etc.)

• Mid-size e-cigs are not affected (like the eGo, Riva, Tornado, etc.)

Only metal tube mods using two batteries for a high-voltage result are implicated in these explosions. Nothing else is affected. Here is some guidance:

• It is best to use Li-Mn cells (such as the AW 'red' batteries), or protected Li-ion cells, in these 2-cell mods (or any mod, for that matter).

• Check that the C Rating for the batteries (maximum discharge current) given by the battery manufacturer is at least 2,000mA (2 amps). Batteries with a discharge capability lower than this ARE NOT SUITABLE.

• Unprotected Li-ion batteries, or batteries with a C Rating below 2,000mA, should not be used.

• Ideally the mod will have both electrical or electronic AND physical safety features. If so you should be covered, as long as you use the best batteries you can buy.

• Cutting costs where batteries are concerned IS A VERY BAD MOVE.

• Good batteries cost about $10 each - $3 batteries for a 2-cell mod are not a good choice at all. You just multiplied the risk by about 1,000 times.

• If you are using two batteries then you need to be ESPECIALLY CAREFUL.

Only metal tube mods with two batteries have exploded in use. Nothing else is affected.

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NOTE: CASAA is reporting this statement and accompanying link as a resource for informational purposes only. Unless otherwise stated, the statements quoted here and made on the ECF web site are solely the opinion of ECF and/or its representatives.

Research shows substituting w/smokeless tobacco saves lives

Presentation at AAAS shows scientific foundation for tobacco harm reduction efforts

Brad Rodu, D.D.S.

Substituting smokeless tobacco products can save smokers’ lives, and there is a scientific foundation that proves it.

That is the message Brad Rodu, D.D.S., professor of medicine at the University of Louisville (UofL) School of Medicine and the Endowed Chair in Tobacco Harm Reduction at UofL’s James Graham Brown Cancer Center, delivered at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Feb. 18. Rodu spoke at the session, “Harm Reduction: Policy Change to Reduce the Global Toll of Smoking-Related Disease.”

“Quit or die: That’s been the brutal message delivered to 45 million American smokers, and it has helped contribute to 443,000 deaths per year, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” Rodu said. “The truth, however, is that total nicotine and tobacco abstinence is unattainable and unnecessary for many smokers.”

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A Simple Tobacco Fable

By Lou Maiellano, Convenience Store Decisions/Tobacco Today

Imagine, if you will, that European explorers land in Africa, North America or South America in the 14th, 15th or 16th centuries. Upon landing, these explorers find the inhabitants of these exotic new lands drinking a strange, energizing brew and smoking the dried beans of a native tree in hand carved pipes.

But in this case, the brew is from tobacco and the smoke is from the coffee bean. The beverage delivers the energizing effects of nicotine and the pipe delivers the stimulation of caffeine in its rich, aromatic smoke. Given that set of facts in this brief, retelling of the history of the new world, how would today’s world be different? I think we know.

Today we would be looking at ever-increasing taxes, restrictions and bans directed at coffee smokers—who more than a century ago began enjoying the dried beans in a manufactured form that looks suspiciously like what we call cigarettes today. These taxes, bans and restrictions would be the result of years and years of studies that have revealed that smoking coffee causes cancers of the lung and other respiratory organs in the primary user and in those exposed to the smoke of the user. And given the effects of caffeine, we could expect that caffeine would be labeled a dangerous, addictive drug, responsible for endangering the health of billions of people worldwide.[Read More....]

Smoking, No, Nicotine, Maybe Smoking, No, Nicotine, Maybe

The diminishing returns of the anti-tobacco ­campaign. 
FEB 27, 2012, VOL. 17, NO. 23 • BY ELI LEHRER • The Weekly Standard

If there’s one perfectly safe conclusion to draw from nearly a century of public health research, it’s this: Cigarette smoking is really, really bad for your health. An unusually complete, if rather obvious, 2010 Surgeon General’s Report on the topic shows that inhaling tobacco smoke not only causes lung disease but also leads to increased risks of stroke, heart attack, and dozens of other maladies. As a result, it’s not surprising that 38 states (sin-happy Nevada among them) and countless localities have enacted various smoking bans while advertisements, public health campaigns, and tax policies send a simple message: Smokers must quit all tobacco use or die early, painful deaths.

AP IMAGES

But public health crusaders haven’t stopped at fighting smoking: Bans on smokeless tobacco use, e-cigarettes, and outdoor smoking have gone into force in locations ranging from the University of Texas’s Arlington Campus (all tobacco), to Boston (e-cigarettes). A growing body of research, however, reveals that the shun-tobacco-or-die dichotomy is an oversimplification. In fact, there’s significant evidence that the act of inhaling burning plant matter does much of the harm while the addictive substance in question (nicotine) and the plant itself (tobacco) are a mixed bag. Public health policy may be better served by a harm reduction strategy that continues efforts to discourage smoking while trying to steer tobacco and nicotine users towards safer forms of the substances.

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Updated: Utah Call to Action

HB 245 - AMENDMENT TO DEFINITION OF SMOKING IN UTAHLink to HB245 (3rd Sub)
This bill would:
Ban the use of e-cigarettes in any public place where smoking is prohibited.

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A bill has been introduced into the Utah State Legislature which would add the use of electronic cigarettes to the definition of smoking.  It is on the 3rd Reading Calendar of the House of Representatives.  We strongly encourage local electronic cigarette users to contact their Representative for their district. If you would like assistance with what to say, please contact us at board@casaa.org.

[Read More]

Birmingham, AL Call to Action (Ended)

AN ORDINANCE TO REPEAL TITLE 11, CHAPTER 9, SECTION 10, "SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES" AND ADOPT IN FULL A NEW TITLE 11, CHAPTER 9, SECTION 10, "CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SMOKE FREE ORDINANCE OF 2011".
Link to Proposed Ordinance

This ordinance would:
Ban the use of e-cigarettes in any public place where smoking is prohibited.

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The Birmingham City Council has scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, April 17th. Public comments will be allowed from anyone who wishes to speak. We want to encourage local e-cigarette users to attend the meeting, and we ask everyone to call, write or fax the City Council as soon as possible to let them know that you oppose this ordinance.

---

Please call, write or fax the Birmingham City Council members below.

What to say: 
1. Urge them to amend the bill to remove the second sentence in Section 2(a)(14) from the proposed Smoke Free Ordinance because it falsely defines "smoking" as including the use of smokefree e-cigarettes.

Encourage them to remove the bill's 4th Whereas clause because it grossly misrepresents the findings of FDA's laboratory test, which confirmed that e-cigarettes don't emit any tobacco smoke and contain nontoxic constituents, with similar trace levels of nitrosamines as found in nicotine gums and patches, and far lower levels than most smokeless tobacco products (none of whose usage would be banned by the proposal).  Also ask them to remove Section2(a)(3) from the bill.

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 placing you back out with the smokers simply puts you back in harm's way.

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Contact information:

Birmingham City Council
710 20th Street North
Birmingham, Alabama 35203-2216
Council Fax: 205-254-2603

District 1
Lashunda Scales
lashunda.scales@birminghamal.gov
Phone: 205.254.2349

District 2
Kim Rafferty
kim.rafferty@birminghamal.gov
Phone: 205.254.2348

District 3
Valerie A. Abbott
valerie.abbott@birminghamal.gov
Phone: 205.254.2355

District 4
Maxine Herring Parker
maxine.parker@birminghamal.gov
Phone: 205.254.2464

District 5
Johnathan Austin
Phone: 205.254.2678
Chairman Public Safety & Technology

District 6
Carole C. Smitherman
carole.smitherman@birminghamal.gov
Phone: 205.254.2359

District 7
James "Jay" Roberson, Jr.
Phone: 205.254.2498

District 8
Steven W. Hoyt
steven.hoyt@birminghamal.gov
Phone: 205.254.2304

District 9
Roderick V. Royal, MPA (President)
roderick.royal@birminghamal.gov
Phone: 205.254.2302
Comma separated email lists:
lashunda.scales@birminghamal.gov, kim.rafferty@birminghamal.gov, valerie.abbott@birminghamal.gov, maxine.parker@birminghamal.gov, carole.smitherman@birminghamal.gov, steven.hoyt@birminghamal.gov, roderick.royal@birminghamal.gov

Semi-colon separated email list:
lashunda.scales@birminghamal.gov; kim.rafferty@birminghamal.gov; valerie.abbott@birminghamal.gov; maxine.parker@birminghamal.gov; carole.smitherman@birminghamal.gov; steven.hoyt@birminghamal.gov; roderick.royal@birminghamal.gov 

Alabama Call to Action (Ended)

Alabama Smoke-free Air Amendment of 2012
Link to SB197 and SB198
Link to HB383

These bills would:
Ban the use of e-cigarettes in any public place where smoking is prohibited.

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UPDATE: The Senate Health Committee has proposed a substitute to SB198 which has been referred favorably to the Senate.  This substitution removes the definition of e-cigarettes and removes their inclusion in the definition of smoking! The House Standing Health Committee has yet to address HB383.

---

Please call, write or fax the members of the House Health Committee and bill sponsor listed below.

What to say:
1. You would like them to amend HB383 to reflect the Senate substitute bill, specifically: by removing definition (4) of e-cigarettes and amending the definition (17) of SMOKE or SMOKING to remove e-cigarette use.

2. Tell your story on how switching to an e-cigarette or smokeless tobacco has changed your life.

3. Explain how electronic cigarette use is easy to distinguish from actual smoking. Although some e-cigarettes resemble real cigarettes, many do not. It is easy to tell when someone lights a cigarette, from the smell of smoke. E-cigarette vapor is practically odorless, and generally any detectable odor is not unpleasant and smells nothing like smoke.

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. 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, completely replace tobacco cigarettes with the electronic cigarettes, reducing their health risks by 98-99%.

6. Tell them that by switching to a smokeless product, you have greatly reduced your health risks.

7. Direct them to the CASAA.org website for more information.

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Contact information:

House Health Committee and Sponsor email lists:
Semi-colon separated email list:
jimmcc@windstream.net; mike.millican@alhouse.gov; johnny.morrow@alhouse.org; elaine_h_beech@yahoo.com; dchesteen@panhandle.rr.com; berry.forte@alhouse.gov; laura.hall2@att.net; ed.henry@alhouse.org; ronald.johnson@alhouse.org; john.knight@alhouse.org; pwlee@graceba.net; clearimagesal@earthlink.net; jimpattersonhd21@gmail.com; bsketa@aol.com; april.weaver@alhouse.org;marysue@marysuemcclurkin.com

Colon separated email list:
jimmcc@windstream.net, mike.millican@alhouse.gov, johnny.morrow@alhouse.org, elaine_h_beech@yahoo.com, dchesteen@panhandle.rr.com, berry.forte@alhouse.gov, laura.hall2@att.net, ed.henry@alhouse.org, ronald.johnson@alhouse.org, john.knight@alhouse.org, pwlee@graceba.net, clearimagesal@earthlink.net, jimpattersonhd21@gmail.com, bsketa@aol.com, april.weaver@alhouse.org,marysue@marysuemcclurkin.com

House Health Committee
JIM McCLENDON (R) Chair
50th District
State House, Room 418-A
11 South Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-7768
(205) 467-2656
jimmcc@windstream.net

MICHAEL J. MILLICAN (R) Vice Chair
17th District
State House, Room 628-F
11 S. Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-7354
(205) 921-3214
FAX: (334) 353-3350
mike.millican@alhouse.gov

JOHNNY MACK MORROW (D)
18th District
State House, Room 404-A
11 S. Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-7698
(256) 356-8043
johnny.morrow@alhouse.org

ELAINE BEECH (D)
65th District
State House, Room 528-D
11 S. Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-7702
(251) 847-2604
elaine_h_beech@yahoo.com

DONNIE CHESTEEN (R)
87th District
State House, Room 630-E
11 South Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-7742
(334) 684-2196
(334) 449-1040
Fax: (334) 684-1899
dchesteen@panhandle.rr.com

BERRY FORTE (D)
84th District
State House, Room 540-D
11 S. Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-7553
(334) 687-9985
(334) 616-1272
berry.forte@alhouse.gov

LAURA HALL (D)
19th District
State House, Room 517-D
11 S. Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-7688
(256) 859-2234
(256) 539-5441
Fax: (256) 539-5444
laura.hall2@att.net

ED HENRY (R)
9th District
11 S. Union Street
State House, Room 524-A
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-7736
(256) 260-2146
Fax: (256) 260-2144
ed.henry@alhouse.org

RONALD G. JOHNSON (R)
33rd District
State House, Room 627-D
11 S. Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-7777
(256) 249-9489
ronald.johnson@alhouse.org

JOHN F. KNIGHT, JR. (D)
77th District
State House, Room 524-F
11 S. Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-7512
(334) 834-7445
(334) 229-4286
john.knight@alhouse.org

PAUL LEE (R)
86th District
State House, Room 526-C
11 S. Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-7675
(334) 792-9682
Fax: (334) 793-5232
pwlee@graceba.net

BECKY NORDGREN (R)
29th District
State House, Room 522-E
11 S. Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 353-9032
(256) 546-1378
(256) 328-1653
Fax: (256) 240-7216
clearimagesal@earthlink.net

JIM PATTERSON (R)
21st District
State House, Room 526-B
11 S. Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-7531
(256) 975-7990
jimpattersonhd21@gmail.com

BENJAMIN "ALLEN" TREADAWAY (R)
51st District
State House, Room 528-C
11 S. Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-7685
(205) 566-6835
(205) 254-1720
bsketa@aol.com

APRIL WEAVER (R)
49th District
State House, Room 522-B
11 S. Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-7731
april.weaver@alhouse.org

House Bill Sponsor

MARY SUE McCLURKIN (R)
43th District
State House, Room 421
11 S. Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-7682
(205) 620-6610
Fax: (205) 620-6611
marysue@marysuemcclurkin.com 

Electronic Cigarette Mishaps Extremely Rare

In response to news that a Florida man was severely injured by an exploded electronic cigarette battery, the Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association (CASAA) expressed sympathy and hope for Tom Holloway’s speedy recovery. “In the wake of this event,” stated CASAA’s president, Elaine Keller, “our organization feels it is important to remember that what happened, while tragic, is extremely rare.”

Lithium-ion battery (left) vs. typical
electronic cigarette battery (right)

Lithium-ion batteries are used in many products, including laptop computers, cell phones, flashlights, electric toothbrushes, and even electric automobiles. Accidental fires or explosions in any of these products are rare, but not unheard of. “Nobody has called for all laptop computers or all cell phones to be pulled off the market,” stated Keller. “Therefore it is both premature and irresponsible at this point for anyone to imply that e-cigarettes are more dangerous than any other type of electronic device that uses lithium-ion batteries.”

According to the CDC, approximately 2.5 million smokers tried an e-cigarette in 2010, and CASAA estimates that more than 1 million former smokers currently use a smoke-free e-cigarette as a complete replacement for their combustible cigarettes. “These former smokers have reduced their risks of lung disease, heart disease, and cancers because they no longer inhale tar, carbon monoxide, particulates, and thousands of chemicals of combustion along with their nicotine,” said Keller. “Over 90% of e-cigarette users report that their health has improved since making the switch.”

At this point there is no information on what type of device Mr. Holloway was using at the time of the incident. However, CASAA would like to reassure the public that the vast majority of commercially available e-cigarettes have built-in safety features designed to prevent overheating. Moreover, most models contain a microchip that automatically shuts off the device in the unlikely event that overheating does occur.

CASAA continues to monitor the situation and will share information as it becomes available.

CASAA is a non-profit organization that works to ensure the availability of reduced harm alternatives to smoking and to provide smokers and non-smokers alike with truthful information about such alternatives.

Media Contact:

Elaine Keller

Springfield, VA

ekeller@casaa.org

(202) 241-9117

North Myrtle Beach e-cig use ban fails to pass

 CASAA has been working with members since mid-January to get an ordinance to ban smoking in the City of North Myrtle Beach amended to remove references e-cigarettes. The ordinance passed a second reading before the City Council Monday night, amended without any mention of electronic cigarettes.

Vapers are still welcome in North Myrtle Beach

Organizations such as the American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society and Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids have been sending model smoke-free ordinances that include electronic cigarettes to local governments and public health boards across the nation. These bans are usually based solely upon a misleading press statement released by the FDA in 2009, falsely suggesting that e-cigarettes contain harmful levels of toxic chemicals and carcinogens. In spite of the fact that there have been no complaints made to the FDA MedWatch regarding significant negative health effects related to e-cigarette use and no public outcry objecting to e-cigarette use where smoking is prohibited, the devices are still being portrayed as a potential danger to the public by these organizations.

Fortunately, upon receiving testimonials from e-cigarette users that they have been able to quit smoking and their health has improved since switching to e-cigarettes, along with experiencing e-cigarette vapor demonstrations, many government officials are seeing the negative claims being made as baseless and are refusing to include e-cigarettes in smoking ordinances.

Unfortunately, for every proposed ban of which CASAA is made aware and able to counter, there are hundreds more in the works. It is imperative that members remain vigilant and alert CASAA of potential legislation in their area.

The North Myrtle Beach amendment is the latest of CASAA's successful campaigns, which include Delaware County, IN, Alexandria, LA, Boise, ID and Alameda, CA.

Hawaii Call to Action (Defeated)

A Bill for an Act Relating to Sales of Electronic Cigarettes
Link to HB 2557
Link to SB 2819


This bill would:
Cause all components of electronic cigarettes to be taxed at 70% of wholesale, and ban the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors. 


Identical bills have been introduced to both the House of Representatives (HB2557) and the Senate (SB2819).  The House bill has been referred to the House Health Committee and House Committee on Finance, and the Senate bill to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.  The Senate Ways and Means Committee will hold a public hearing on SB2819 on Wednesday, February 8th at 9am.  Public testimony may be allowed from attendees wishing to speak. We strongly encourage local electronic cigarette users to attend the meeting. If you would like assistance with what to say, please contact us at board@casaa.org.


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World Vaping Day 2012

Celebrate the first World Vaping Day with CASAA on Thursday, March 22nd, 2012!

Since their introduction in 2003, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have taken the world by storm. Millions of former smokers have either switched from smoking completely or greatly reduced their cigarette consumption due to this innovative device. CASAA is joining other organizations around the world to promote this event!

Electronic cigarettes are a completely different approach to addressing the concerns about the cost and health effects of smoking. Until now, the focus on quitting smoking has been on ending nicotine dependence, yet billions spent on nicotine cessation products has resulted in very low quit rates. Nicotine gums, lozenges and patches that require eventual abstinence; and pills that attempt to make smoking unpleasant for the smoker completely ignore the social and behavioral aspects many smokers enjoy and do not wish to give up. It is a myth that most smokers "want to quit." In truth, most smokers simply realize that they probably should quit. Therefore, not only do those products fail to help 93% of the time - even for smokers who actually do want to end nicotine dependence - they are completely ignored by the millions of smokers who enjoy smoking for reasons beyond nicotine use. Electronic cigarette use - or "vaping" - addresses smokers' needs on multiple levels, rather than simply focusing on the nicotine.

Electronic cigarettes are not intended to be used as a nicotine cessation product. They are intended to replace tobacco cigarettes by providing an alternate source of nicotine and mimicking the familiar behaviors associated with smoking, thereby eliminating the user's exposure to smoke and significantly reducing the health concerns related to smoking. By eliminating the cigarette smoke but not requiring the user to give up familiar habits and nicotine, electronic cigarettes are showing significant promise as a highly successful tobacco harm reduction product.

Contrary to what you may have heard, e-cigarettes have been researched, studied and tested; including research on nicotine delivery, toxicity, carcinogens, efficacy for smoking cessation and nicotine content. While it has been generally acknowledged that manufacturing standards need to be established, even the highly publicized and misrepresented analysis by the FDA found that the e-cigarettes it tested did not contain harmful levels of any toxic chemicals or carcinogens. Most medical experts and public health experts agree (or at least grudgingly concede) that the typical electronic cigarette vapor, consisting of propylene glycol, glycerin, artificial flavorings and nicotine, would not deliver anywhere near the harmful levels of chemicals and carcinogens that are found in traditional cigarettes. So, while we cannot claim that e-cigarettes are 100% safe (really what is 100% safe in this world?), it would be hard for anyone to argue that the vapor is not infinitely safer than smoke. Therefore, CASAA feels confident recommending e-cigarettes as an acceptable smokeless alternate for smokers who wish to reduce or completely eliminate cigarette smoke exposure.

Take the opportunity to participate in World Vaping Day 2012. If you are a smoker and haven't tried e-cigarettes yet, there are inexpensive disposable brands, which are available online or even at your local Walgreens - now is the time to give one a try! If you are already an e-cigarette user, this is a great day to talk about how you made the switch to friends and family who are smokers. Post about it on your social networks. Show a co-working smoker at work your e-cigarette or even a a stranger standing outside in the cold. World Vaping Day is the day to let the world know that you are a vaper!

Web Link: http://www.world-vaping-day.com/

CASAA Seeking Directors

CASAA is currently looking to fill the three open Director positions on the Board of Directors.

If you would like to become much more involved with helping CASAA achieve its mission, please send an email to board@casaa.org to request a copy of the Board Candidate Questionnaire and/or with any questions.

"We Are Vapers" documentary

CASAA is excited to announce that it will be acting as a principal adviser for "We Are Vapers," a documentary about electronic cigarettes and tobacco harm reduction.

The film, which "will explore the concept of Smoking Tobacco Harm Reduction, e-cigarettes role and the community that has risen alongside it," is currently in the pre-production stage. CASAA hopes everyone will take the time to visit http://wearevapers.com to learn more about the project which is, like CASAA, a grassroots effort in need of participants to tell their story, volunteers, equipment, lodging and donations.

In the case that the contributions exceed the production costs or if the project doesn't raise enough money and can't be produced, they will donate it all, without exception, to the CASAA. As of this post, the producers have raised just over half of the $20,000 goal.

Please consider being a part of this worthy project! Direct contributions may be made here: http://www.indiegogo.com/wearevapers

Interview w/ Producer/Director Linc Williams about the 

"We Are Vapers" Documentary (includes promo video)