Uh, Power 'em up, if you got 'em?

Continuing the cigarette smoking theme...

Electronic cigarettes.

Electronic cigarettes, you ask?

Yes, Electronic cigarettes.

These little buggers use battery power to warm liquid nicotine, vaporizing it in the cylinder, which the user then inhales. They even product "puffs" of, its not smoke, but a smoke-esque product.

Since no actual combustion occurs, and there are no additives such as tar, there aren't any known carcinogens created by the use of these products. And since smoke isn't a by-product, there is no second hand smoke to worry about.

So what does the FDA/Congress do? It starts blocking their importation as nicotene delivery devices, of course.

No one is going to argue that their aren't downsides. Nicotene is still addictive. But certainly, Smoker X would be much, much better choosing an electronic cigarette over a burny-type cigaratte. Is there a chance that someone might try to use these products to induce more actual, burny-type cigarette smoking? I suppose. Though I find it hard to believe that if given the option - and I hear E-Cigs are cheaper - they would choose what is almost universally recognized as a disgusting habit over the E-Cigs.

A CNN headline notes that the FDA is "hazy" on e-cigarettes' safety. Hazy?

Hazy?

This from an organization that already allows, condones and regulates (even if in secret) cigarettes. ALLOWS a product known to be addictive. ALLOWS a product known to contribute to cancer. ALLOWS a product that could harm bystanders.

But yeah, E-Cigs without any known carcinogens in them are much, much too experimental and dangerous. We wouldn't want any products that could have damaging side-effects in the market.

Why, they could end up being (almost) as deadly as burny-type cigarettes!

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(Semi) PERMANENT DISCLAIMER: NOW REGULATED BY THE FDA!

Tobacco and cigarettes are now regulated by the FDA (Food & Drug Admin). The legislation allowing this expressly prohibits the companies from advertising, in any way, that they are infact regulated by the FDA.

I am in no way advertising, on a paid or any other basis, cigarettes. Marlboro is here. R.J. Reynolds. Phillip Morris. NOW REGULATED BY THE FDA!