LOS ANGELES — Arguing that the rising popularity of electronic cigarettes soon would undermine California's leadership in reducing tobacco use, state health officials Wednesday called for tighter regulation of the devices and announced an educational campaign to combat their use.
Addressing "vaping" by minors and young adults, the fastest-growing group of users in the state, will be a key focus, California's Department of Public Health said in a 21-page report. E-cigarette use among young adults ages 18 to 29 in California tripled between 2012 and 2013, according to the agency.
"I'm advising Californians, including those who currently use tobacco, to avoid using e-cigarettes," state health officer Dr. Ron Chapman said during a conference call following the document's release. "E-cigarettes ... re-normalize smoking behavior and introduce a new generation to nicotine addiction."
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Dr Chapman is a tool. There's no way that vaping the juice, consisting of a handful of ingredients (veg glycerin, propylene glycol, nicotine, and flavors) is worse than a mass produced cigarette combusting hundreds of added synthetic chemicals. Vaping also delivers less nicotine than smoking, making it that much easier to reduce your usage all together.
ReplyDeleteIt's really about the tax money. A pack of day smoker in MD has a habit that costs about $2500. Of those 365 packs of cigarettes, there's about $725 in taxes paid.
Vaping can cut that cost down to around $400. That's $24 of sales tax.
Getting healthier costs the state about $700, and represents a reduction in tax revenue of 97%. It also frees up around $1800 a year in savings, better quality food at the grocery store, car repairs, a future home purchase, retirement planning, etc.
When a public health official claims that it's better to smoke cigarettes, they're really crying over lost revenue for their department.
No imatation cigaretts but pot is OK.
ReplyDelete