Electronic Cigarette Related News, Trends & General Information
E-liquids Canada - Beware of what you are putting in to your e-cigs June 27, 2014 17:19
A dangerously powerful stimulant is being made available for sale in vials, gallons and barrels in the markets around the country in a new form. The stimulant is nicotine in liquid form. The potent drug is extracted from tobacco, mixed with flavors, colors and other chemicals and supplied to the electronic cigarettes industry which is seeing unprecedented growth.
This e-liquid, a key ingredient of e-cigarettes, is a potent neurotoxin which is capable of causing vomiting and seizures even if only a very small amount is absorbed through skin or ingested. Sometimes, it can even be lethal. A teaspoon of this e-liquid (even if it is highly diluted) is sufficient to cause death to a small child.
Unfortunately, federal authorities have not established any regulation for e-liquids as in the case of e-cigarettes. E-liquids are being prepared of the floors of factories, shop backrooms and sold through regular and online stores. The small bottles in which they are supplied as e-cigarette refills are left around casually in houses.
As evidence of the e-liquid’s potential dangers emerge, toxicologists have issued warnings about the significant risk it poses to public health, especially children, who are likely to be attracted because of their colors and chocolate, cherry and bubble gum flavorings.
There is a notable increase in the number of reports about accidental poisonings, especially among children. Suicide committed by an adult by injecting himself with nicotine appears to be one death that has been reported in the U.S. since 2011. However, there has been a sharp increase in the number of calls being received by poison control centers, reporting less serious cases. Last year, as many as 1,351 cases (an increase of 300 percent from 2012) linked to e-liquids were reported. The National Poison Data System expects the numbers to double in the current year. The number of cases reported to hospitals in 2013 was 365, three times that reported during 2012.
As far as the risk of immediate poisoning is concerned, it is much higher in the case of e-liquids than tobacco. This is because liquid gets absorbed faster, even if it is diluted.
The increase in poisoning reports indicates two things: growth of the e-cigarettes market and a change in technology. In the initial days of introduction of e-cigarettes, they were disposable types that resembled traditional tobacco cigarettes. Over the years, e-cigarettes have become larger, reusable types which can be refilled with flavored nicotine.
The increase in the use of e-liquids has given birth to a new category of recreational drug. The proponents of e-cigarettes argue that it represents a technological advancement which will help people to quit smoking. This argument remains controversial, despite anecdotal evidence that people are quitting smoking. However, long term studies have not been conducted to prove the efficacy of e-cigarettes, in making people quit smoking, over nicotine patches or gums and the side effects caused because of inhalation of vaporized nicotine.
The nicotine content in e-liquids varies from 1.8 percent to 2.4 percent. Such e-liquids may cause sickness in children, but rarely death. The problem is that e-liquids with 7.2 percent and even 10 percent nicotine content are widely available online. According to Dr. Cantrell of Poison Control System, California, a tablespoon of the e-liquid with these levels of nicotine concentration can kill an adult.
Scientists Argue E-cigarettes Could Save Lives Of Millions Of Smokers June 15, 2014 07:24
In their open letter addressed to the World Health Organization (WHO), scientists from North America, Europe, Australia and Asia have argued that e-cigarettes have a key role to play in raging a war against smoking. More than 50 experts from the fields of public health as well as nicotine studies, including 5 people from Canada, advised WHO against classifying e-cigarettes as tobacco-based products. According to these experts, it would endanger an innovation of great significance from being beneficial in saving the lives of millions of people around the world.
In the letter, the experts wrote that e-cigarettes must be considered as one of the most significant developments in the 21st century as far as health-related innovations are concerned. They also urged the authorities to resist the temptation to classify them under tobacco products.
However, documents pertaining to a meeting held last November that leaked out show that WHO’s view seems to be trending towards treating e-cigarettes as a threat and classifying them as tobacco cigarettes.
David Sweanor, one of the experts who signed the letter, is a professor in law at the University of Ottawa. He also puts in a lot of work in the field of tobacco control. He said in an interview that the goal is to try and eliminate cigarettes, or make them obsolete, with the help of the powerful technology that we have in our hands. According to Sweanor, it could lead us to one of the key achievements that we have ever had in the field of public health.
The writers of the letter refer to what is called “tobacco harm reduction”. They wrote that the 1.3 billion smokers around the world could do a great deal of less harm to their bodies by consuming nicotine in the non-combustible form. It is a proven fact that inhalation of toxic gases and tar into the lungs is responsible for causing a vast majority of harm to the smoker’s health.
This is what British Lung Foundation CEO Penny Woods had to say in response to the experts’ letter: “It is not clear as to how the use of e-cigarettes will impact the health of its users. Though they may serve as a key tool that helps people quit smoking, e-cigarettes are currently unregulated and this could cause a lot of problems.”
Sweanor also said that e-cigarettes are being used mainly by people who want to give up smoking, according to research studies and that there is little evidence to show that young people are using them to start smoking.
Anti-smoking Campaign Progress – Do Electronic-cigarettes and related devises Pose a Threat?
Nova Scotia’s plan is to bring in a new legislation during the fall season which will put a ban on selling e-cigarettes to people below 19 years of age.
Nova Scotia health minister Leo Glavine categorically said that the province had seen a tremendous increase in cancer cases and deaths due to smoking. The province, therefore, does not want to encourage the sale of e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco juices.
E-Cigarettes – Health Canada Continues to Advise Against Their Use
A Health Canada spokesman said in an email that advertising and selling e-cigarette products including e-liquids containing nicotine, is not in compliance with the Food and Drugs Act and it is, therefore, illegal to do that.
“As of today, the evidence available to prove that e-cigarettes are of great help in getting Canadians to give up smoking is insufficient. E-cigarette makers should present evidence and show that it is safe and effective if they want to get their products authorized. In the absence of scientific evidence, Health Canada is forced to advise the Canadians, especially the youth, to avoid using these products,” the spokesman wrote in the email.
Health Canada has even issued cease and desist letters to retailers of Electronic cigarettes in Canada as some retailers started making claims of health benefits, according to several e-cig business owners. They added that "the letter submitted to WHO by the scientists gives them a lot of hope". Theye also said that "it is the best thing to happen for the e-cigarettes business as it handles all of the misinformation that is out there".
The scientists said that they wanted to pass on their message to WHO which is all set to review its recommendations on tobacco between October 13th and 18th this year in Moscow.
E-Cigarettes Help To Reduce Harmful Effects Of Smoking June 10, 2014 09:00
In Canada, the principal cause of diseases that are preventable continues to be those caused because of smoking. With an estimated annual direct cost of $4.4 billion, it puts a huge burden on the country’s health care system. However, this cost does not capture the progressive deterioration in health that the smokers experience before they are diagnosed either with heart disease, chronic lung disease or even cancer.
The public have responded very poorly to Canada’s championing tobacco control efforts. This is because the efforts were more focused on encouraging abstinence as well as stigmatizing smokers instead of launching a nationwide campaign with well defined strategies and goals. Those who are responsible for diagnosing, providing care as well as treating illnesses associated with smoking have been adopting not only expensive and aggressive ways, but also dubious methods to manage diseases instead of focusing on prevention. Smokers are often left to fight the addiction all by themselves.
Graphic pictures displayed on packing material, higher taxes and tight restrictions as to where people can smoke have definitely helped to bring down smoking, but they have not been effective in making 4.7 million Canadian smokers give up smoking. Further, the situation has been aggravated by an increase in the number of smokers within the members of the underprivileged community in the society. There would have been more urgency if 20 percent of the adults among the rich Canadians were addicted and afflicted with serious diseases because of smoking tobacco products.
Several facts related to smoking cannot be refuted. Most smokers would like to give up smoking not only because of the cost as well as the stigma associated with it, but also because of concerns about health. Further, nicotine may be both psychologically and physiologically addictive, but it is not nicotine that contributes to the incidence of health problems in smokers, but the toxins that the person inhales when tobacco burns.
Electronic Cigarettes do help Canadians to quit smoking. People get their dose of nicotine through inhalation of vaporized liquid nicotine. E-cigarettes also help people who are not willing or not able to give up smoking to at least bring down impact of smoking on their health. Therefore, e-cigarette can be thought of as the best harm reduction intervention that is available today and more and more people have started using it despite the fact that small entrepreneurs are recommending its use. There is neither any kind of promotion nor regulation.
On the other hand, the skeptics point out that the beneficial effects of e-cigarettes are not proven yet and they may cause adverse side effects. It is true that studies have to be carried out to ascertain and prove beyond any doubt that it is beneficial, but e-cigarettes can help eliminate toxins inhaled through the tobacco smoke by the smokers. Some of the youngsters who try out smoking may now make use of e-cigarettes instead of cigarettes. The good thing is that it is highly unlikely that the youngsters who try out e-cigarettes would change over to the more harmful substance later. We need not trust the tobacco companies, but we should not think that e-cigarettes do not provide any benefits at all because of the contempt we carry in our minds as far as the industry is concerned. Regulation is essential in order to make sure that correct nicotine dose is administered, makers do not add other substances, there are restrictions as far as sales to the youth are concerned and there are health-based limitations on product advertisements.
When it comes to improving the health of smokers, saving the lives of people and bringing down government’s expenditure on heath care, e-cigarettes can contribute to a great extent. However, if we continue to hold on to moralistic arguments that only abstinence presents the right model as far as substance use or abuse is concerned, unwanted fears that it could cause a great deal of health risk to the younger generation and the mistrust being vehemently promoted by the tobacco manufacturers, we may miss the bus altogether. The opportunity being presented to us by electronic cigarettes to bring about a radical change in the incidence of diseases associated with smoking not only in Canada, but also around the world, will be lost forever.
Health Canada's Crackdown On Ecigarette Vendors May 21, 2014 09:28
Despite Health Canada's crackdown on shops selling electronic cigarettes, some of them continue to sell these products on the sly.
Even as America's Food and Drug Administration is thinking in terms of enforcing laws under the tobacco control act for regulating e-cigarettes containing nicotine, Health Canada said that it is taking into account all options available for appropriately overseeing the sale of ecigarettes.
According to the Food and Drugs Act of Canada, import of ecigarettes, advertisement or sale is prohibited as this product has not been authorized by the market. During the last five year period, Health Canada has issued over 250 letters to various companies across the country to cease and desist from dealing with ecigarettes. Out of these letters, ninety four were issued in 2013 and included those sent to shops in British Columbia (32), Ontario (23), Quebec (21), Atlantic Canada (9) and the Prairies (9).
Leslie Meerburg, agency's spokesperson, said that most of the shops that have been trageted have not only complied with the orders, but also have ceased to sell products that contain nicotine.
However, some shops like Vapor Jedi in Saskatoon have very politely expressed their disagreement is complying with the demands of the federal government. The business of Mitch Tarala, owner of the Vapor Jedi store, is doing extremely well and he is planning to open his second shop in Regina. He displays the cease-and-desist letter issued to him at the front in his store, but responds quickly to his customers' questions and tells them why he does not want to break the law.
According to him, the products sold by him deliver only less than 4 milligrams of nicotine per dose when inhaled and, is therefore, is exempted from the purview of the Food and Drugs Act.
Tarala added that it is important to place appropriate labels and specify age restrictions are important and that he complies with those stipulations. However, he opined that regulation of these products through the tobacco act, as being contemplated in the United States of America, is inappropriate.
According to him, Health Canada should have its own regulations as they have for vapor products. He added that it is not right to club ecigarettes with tobacco products at all since ecigarette they are not tobacco products and the only similarities are their appearance and presence of nicotine.
British E-Cigarette users have tripled to 2 million since 2012, study reveals May 6, 2014 09:32
Over 2 million people are believed to make use of electronic cigarettes in Britain, but most of them are current smokers or ex-smokers that use the devices to stay away from tobacco, based on a survey published on Monday.
The anti-tobacco charity Ash (Action on Smoking and Health) stated that the number of e-cigarette users has tripled from 700, 000 in 2012. Almost two-thirds of consumers are smokers and the other third are ex-smokers, Ash says, while usage of the devices among non-smokers is very low, at just 0.1%.
Ash's discoveries are published the day a discussion on e-cigarette promotion closes. The Advertising Standards Authority has been evaluating concerns, especially among public health doctors, that advertising inspires non-smokers and especially children to try them out, knowing that they are going to graduate to standard cigarettes smoking.
But Ash's survey, performed by YouGov, reveals that this is not happening; people are using e-cigarettes to quit their tobacco habit instead.
"The significant increase in the usage of electronic cigarettes within the last four years signifies that cigarette smokers are gradually using these devices to enable them reduce or stop smoking. Significantly, usage among non-smokers is still very low," stated by Deborah Arnott, Ash's chief executive.
"While it is paramount to regulate the promotion of electronic cigarettes to ensure children and non-smokers are not becoming targeted, having no proof from our research that e-cigarettes are becoming a gateway into smoking.”
YouGov examined over 12,000 people, with Ash extrapolating the totality of e-cigarette users in the population from the investigations.
In the same YouGov review in 2010, 8.2% of existing or ex-smokers had used e-cigarettes, these days half of these people have (51.7%). In 2010, only 2.7% claimed they use them regularly, but now that is nearly 17.7%.
Among the present e-cigarette users, the major reason given by ex-smokers was "to help me quit smoking totally" (71%) and "to assist me to keep off tobacco" (48%). The major reason given by present smokers was to "help me reduce the quantity of tobacco I smoke, but never to stop completely" (48%) followed by "to reduce expenses when compared with smoking tobacco" (37%).
A survey from University College London before this month had the same discoveries. The Smoking Toolkit Study conducted in England discovered that e-cigarettes were taking over from nicotine gum and patches as a tool to quit smoking.
The leader of that research, Professor Robert West, stated: "Despite claims that use of electronic cigarettes risks renormalizing smoking, we found no proof to backup this view. Instead, electronic cigarettes are helping to minimize smoking as a lot of people utilize them as a tool to quit smoking.”
The assessment is considering if advertising guidelines should be changed for e-cigarettes. Some public health doctors claim that advertising could normalize ordinary cigarettes that have otherwise turn into pariah products.
The e-cigarette industry stated the Ash survey showed that public health rivals, like the British Medical Association, were wrong to oppose the devices as resolutely as they do. "Study after study is affirming that scaremongering that e-cigarettes are luring people into tobacco is a baseless fact. The opposite is the case, smokers are changing to e-cigarettes as the means to minimize the danger from tobacco," stated Charles Hamshaw-Thomas, legal and corporate affairs director of E-Lites
University of Ottawa Professor David Sweanor Discusses Electronic Cigarettes in Canada April 29, 2014 07:22
David Sweanor is a fan of e-cigarettes, so he has just summarized his argument in four words: "It is not smoke"
The problem with smoking is the process of combustion that is needed to deliver the nicotine, so we will end up with this epidemic if we can get rid of this process, according to Mr. Sweanor – a law professor at the University of Ottawa who has worked for 30 years in the public health field.
The government-regulated and readily-available alternatives the chewing gum, nicotine patch, lozenges have not had the impact desired in the drive to stop smoking, according to Mr. Sweanor.
A lot of former smokers who meet Mr. Sweanor say that they swear by vaping, and they believe it is a suitable alternative to even quit smoking. Mr. Sweanor has met many of these former smokes in his travel to a conference with some retailers of e-cigarettes in Dallas, a debate at the Heart Institute of the University of Ottawa, and a conference in Toronto at the Public Health Association of Ontario.
Some people tell Mr. Sweanor that he has saved their lives. He also cites gloomy forecasts from the World Health Organization showing that one billion lives has been lost in this century because of cigarette smoking.
Cigarettes cause 40,000 death in Canada each and every year.
People are dying because of the smoke not the nicotine – but cigarettes' death toll is incredible.
There are lots of risks involved in inhaling the vapor of a cigarette, which contains nicotine, flavoring agents along with propylene glycol. However, Mr. Sweanor equates the actual difference between smoking and vaping to getting your caffeine fix from a little cup of coffee instead of just lighting up some tea leaves.
Things in this field will not be fixed anytime soon, according to Mr. Sweanor.
There is an $800 billion worldwide market for cigarettes, and most people do not want to smoke cigarettes anyway – private enterprise is just looking at this fact.
They are also figuring out the facts that they can help the world save billions of dollars in heath care costs along with millions of lives. Private enterprise also wants to give smokers what they need, so they can get rich and win a Novel Prize while they work hard on this vision.
A lot of heavy smokers in Ottawa do not have a real chance for somewhat quitting their smoking habits, so they are using e-cigarettes heavily, according to people who deal with smokers in shops.
Health Canada has taken an absolutist approach in banning these products, according to Mr. Sweanor. He also said they should have taken a pragmatic approach.
The same situation happened with venereal diseases, alcohol, illicit drugs, and diet, according to Sweanor. We also need policies that give us alternatives to deal with nicotine in a better way, says Sweanor. If smokers can consume nicotine in a less harmful way, then they would avoid many problems as well.
Smoking is a social phenomenon that we cannot prevent, so there must be a way of turning it to our advantage.
E-Cigarette businesses Defy Health Canada cease and desist orders April 16, 2014 09:50
Electronic cigarette vendors in Canada have reportedly received the latest threatening letters from Health Canada but they aren't budging. The government has even banned the importation of nicotine "e-juice" to Canada. Despite this ban, the e-cigarette business seems to be booming. For instance, in 2013 alone, the Canadian Border Services impounded almost 17,000 Kg of tobacco substitute products, including those used in e-cigarettes.
Instead of dampening the spirit of electronic cigarette retailers, the threats from federal agencies seems empty considering the rapidly increasing number of e-cigarette businesses across the country, either as online-based stores or as brick-and-mortar stores.
An e-cig vendor and a member of the E-Cigarette Trade Association of Canada (ECTA), Kate Ackerman says, the retail industry faces a myriad of legal problems, from border seizures to cease and desist orders. He added that ECTA is pushing the federal government to consult all the interested parties in order to come up with comprehensive e-cigarette regulations. This way, the product would be handled properly.
“Only a few of the 5 million smokers in Canada understand what e-cigarette is. Health Canada knows this fact but it is uneconomical with the truth,” said Ackerman. According to Ackerman, since e-cigarette is not a medical product, it is illogical and dishonest to say that it's not approved yet it doesn’t fall in the category of medical products that have failed the approval requirements
“It is also dishonest to bar a retailer from selling an electronic cigarette because it's not an approved medical product yet it's sold as a non-medical product. But since the federal government is at the center of this issue, real struggle is inevitable and eventually, the matter will be settled in court."
Some electronic cigarette vendors are reportedly scared off when they receive a cease and desist letter from Health Canada. In the letter, they warn you to stop selling the products "or else". "This can be very scary, particularly the or else part," he added.
“When you read the letter, what comes in your mind is the government crushing your door and hauling you off to jail forever. But currently, the law does not allow them to do much in terms of penalizing electronic cigarette vendors who have defied their orders. All they can do now is to mark vendors who are violating their food and drug regulations by selling nicotine e-liquid. It is not clear whether or not they pursue that but even if they go ahead and pursue it, it would just end up in court.”
According to Ackerman, people are beginning to understand and embrace e-cigarettes. Attitude against this product is increasingly shifting, not only in the US but across the world.
A recent study by Royal College of Physicians predicts a good future for the electronic cigarettes and says people should support their use because they will save lives. According to the study, e-cigarettes will be embraced in U.K. health institutions once they are licensed. Although the e-cigarette retail industry continues to grow every year, Health Canada is not relenting on its resolve to ban the sale of e-cigarettes.
Electronic cigarettes – a perfect combination of style and convenience April 9, 2014 12:01
Ever since electronic cigarettes were introduced in Canada, they have been creating headlines. Initially smokers were skeptical about its ability to satisfy their love for puffs but slowly they realized the benefits. It is the advantages of electronic cigarettes over traditional ones that have made them so popular. Smokers who tried them now swear by them and hence ecigs have become a part of their life.
The evolution of ecigs
Initially ecigs came in 3 piece models and the users had to fill the cartridges with e-juice to enjoy their puffs. This was cumbersome and often worked as a deterrent factor. Technological advancements led to the introduction of 2 piece models which made ecigs all the more convenient. Today, ecigs have evolved as not only the most convenient mode of smoking but also style statement for the people who care about their looks as much as their yearning to be smoke free.
Electronic cigarettes offer both convenience and style
The greatest benefit of using ecigs is the freedom of smoking. You can use them in many places where tradditional cigarettes are banned . Ecigs do not involve burning of anything and hence do not attract the same bans that cigarettes do.
Traditional cigarettes in Canada are available in only a selected range of flavours, Tobacco and Menthol, and as such we have focused on that and have decided to only carry these two flavours as we feel this will satisfy over 95% of ecig users in Canada and will help to keep our overhead down enabling us to keep our cartomizer prices the lowest in the industry
Electronic cigarettes are cost effective also. The initial cost of the kit may seem to be high but in the long run you only have to pay for the cartomizers.
There is no doubt that ecigs are a great alternative as no inhalation of nicotine takes place since Health Canada rulings forbid the inclusion of nicotine in pre-filled cartomizers. Smokers can avoid the unpleasantness related to smoking by switching to ecigs.
E-cigs are smokeless and odorless and hence celebrated by the smokers all over the world.
Apart from being convenient ecigs are also very stylish. They are cool digital devices that can notch up the style quotient instantly. Most of them are available in sleek models that are a pleasure to hold and use. With stylish body and aerodynamic design, they can be the perfect accessory for men as well as women.
Ecigs bestow greater control and wider choice to the users. They have provided an alternative to the smokers. There is no doubt that these convenient and highly stylish devices have found their own place in the market and also in the hearts of millions of smokers.
Health Canada finds out the number of e-cigarettes in the market April 2, 2014 17:44
With the existence of both legal and illegal electronic cigarettes in the market today, Health Canada has launched the process of determining the exact number of devices being sold in the market. For example, Ottawa has allocated $230,000 towards the study that will determine the total number of electronic cigarettes sold over the last two years and within the current month.
As the number of people who use electronic cigarettes continue to swell, the devices are still trapped in a legal straddle. They can be sold only if they produce vapor and not nicotine. Moreover, it is illegal to advertise e-cigarettes as a healthy alternative to conventional tobacco cigarettes. However, the legal devices come with vapor cartridges that can be easily switched with nicotine and such devices have recorded surging demand.
e-Steam, a downtown Ottawa e-cigarette retailer, reflects the increasing popularity of e-cigarettes with vapor cartridges. After only two years in business, the company has opened fourteen branches in Ontario. One of the company’s employees, Phil Ralph says, “Many customers are attesting to how e-cigarettes have changed their lives from saving their lungs to saving their marriage.”
The price of an starter kit ranges from around 80 to hundreds of dollars. The devices come with vapour cartridges while nicotine (up to 24mm vials) can be purchased separately. Ralph has himself tried and failed many times to quit after 12 years of smoking, but he has now shifted to e-cigarettes. “I haven’t smoked for over three months thanks to the switch,” he added.
However, the testimonies of the smokers have failed to convince anti-smoking groups, such as the Canadian Lung Association which has termed them as gimmicky methods. Instead, they are calling for tighter e-cig regulations and urging smokers to use other alternative methods.
Health Canada advises citizens against the use of electronic cigarettes until there is credible scientific evidence suggesting otherwise. Ottawa has now outsourced the services of a private company, AC Nielsen, to find out the number of smoking cessation aids being sold. The company which is based in St. Laurent, Que has been contracted to study the total retail sales of e-cigarettes and other related nicotine replacement therapy products.
The government wants to find out the number of devices sold in the last two years, as well as ongoing monthly sale reports. The $133,000 contract stretches through the entire fiscal year 2014-2015, but may be renewed for the next fiscal year for $100,000.
The office of the Health Minister has not clarified whether the outcome of the research may be used to make new legislation. The spokesman Michael Bolkenius says, “Health Canada has been mandated to bring e-cigarette vendors into compliance with the existing laws.” He added manufacturers will have to provide scientific evidence suggesting that the benefits of their e-cigs outweigh the potential risks. No company has so far applied for their products to be authorized.
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