Europe-German Petition 2016

CASAA is “rebroadcasting” this call to action from Vapers.Org.UK.

Click here for this CASAA Call to Action guide

You can see the original post here.

Petition the German Parliament: “Don’t implement ART 20 TPD!”

We should preface this by making it clear that this is not your run-of-the-mill petition (Petition 61453). In the context of the German Parliament, this is part of the legislative process. As such, there are detailed instructions for signing this petition on the original post. Rather than rewrite the entire post — which is thorough and you should plan to take about 15 minutes to sit down with it — we will simply take this opportunity to explain why your participation is vital.

1. German vapers (or “steamers,” as the literal translation goes) have written this petition to demand that their government reject implementing Article 20 of the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive (TPD). For a detailed look at Article 20 of the TPD and why it should be vehemently opposed, please see analysis provided by Clive Bates here.

2. This petition needs 50,000 signatures in order to be presented to the German Parliament. Fortunately, those signatures can come from anywhere. In fact, it may be very beneficial if a large portion of them come from outside of Germany.

3. The deadline for reaching the threshold is Wednesday, January 20th, 2016. (It is absolutely vital that you provide accurate information when registering to participate in the German petition system. False or inaccurate personal info may jeopardize consideration of this petition.

Please follow the detailed walkthrough provided by German Vapers and register with the German Parliament website so you can Sign This Petition. (We recommend viewing the site as translated by Google for easier navigation — unless, of course, you read/speak German)

Please take action TODAY and sign this petition!

Please share these posts on social media:

• Vapers.org.uk: http://vapers.org.uk/petition-to-the-german-parliament/

• CASAA: http://blog.casaa.org/2016/01/help-german-vapers-oppose-tpd-sign.html

Thank you,

CASAA Legislative Team

Petition update

A chance to help out German vapers

Jan 10, 2016 — Here’s a chance to help out vapers in Germany who are petitioning their government to oppose the TPD(the European version of the “deeming”). This is an actual part of their legislative process, so this petition can have a significant impact on what happens in Germany.

If you have 15 minutes or so, and yes it will take a while because you have to register and will probably want to use something like google chrome to translate the pages from German, please consider taking the time to participate.

CASAA: Help German Vapers oppose the TPD! Sign the petition to German Parliament.

CASAA is “rebroadcasting” this call to action from Vapers.Org.UK. Petition the German Parliament: “Don’t implement ART 20 TPD!” We should preface this by making it clear that this is not your…

http://blog.casaa.org

Call To Action FEB2016

Posted 1/18/16

1/10/16

CASAA Call To Action for our German Vaper Brothers! Anyone in the world can sign. Sign today.

VSLLC did!

Calls to action per state:

1/1/16

Call to Action:

In the final days of 2015, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller released a statement in support of vapor products. This is a significant departure from the public statements of his counterparts in other states. CASAA is encouraging Iowa residents to take this opportunity to voice your support for AG Miller’s positive remarks about vaping. Please include your story about how vapor products have made a difference in your life and share why you are passionate about this issue.

Thank you AG Miller – Send a Message

For residents outside of Iowa, we have provided a prewritten letter you can print out, sign, and send via traditional means. (You are also welcome to copy and paste the text into your own word doc and add your story before printing)

Send a Letter

Mailing Address:

Office of the Attorney General of Iowa

Hoover State Office Building

1305 E. Walnut Street

Des Moines, IA 50319

Also for residents outside of Iowa, please take a moment to share AG Miller’s statement with your attorneys general. Please remember to include your story about how vapor products have made a difference in your life and share why you are passionate about this issue.

Take Action – Send an Email to your AG

Please share this link on social media:

• http://blog.casaa.org/2016/01/help-us-say-thank-you-to-iowa-attorney.html

Thank you,

CASAA Legislative Team

(Writing Tip #1) If you have a lot to say, please craft your email in a separate word doc and then copy/paste it into the field provided.  If you take too long, they system will time out and you will lose your work.

(Writing Tip #2) Although we’ve provided a prewritten email with compelling talking points, we would strongly encourage you to edit the email because personalized communications to legislators are far more persuasive than form letters.  At a minimum, PLEASE INSERT YOUR PERSONAL STORY (just a few sentences) in the text of your email.

VapeSling Review by TurboVegas

Vape Advocacy Guide – What to do to help

PDF library of downloads for your reference:

1/10/16 From Dave.seeker.of.clouds:

ATR Support for Predicate Date Change

IssueSnapshotOnDeeming

Petition Response

HR2058guide

HR2058 guide on what is needed from you

fifteen-minutes-flyer

What can you do in 15 min. A whole hell of a lot. This guide will help you be the advocate activist you can be.

Vape Call To Action: HR2058

Thursday (12.17.15)

Late Tuesday night, an agreement was reached regarding the final language of the omnibus budget bill. Sadly, the provision that would have protected consumer access to vapor products was not included. However, this is by no means the end of our efforts to prevent the harm that will result if the FDA deeming regulations are finalized in the spring of 2016.

In fact, this is a great opportunity to urge Congress to

Support HR 2058.

Even if you’ve already participated, please take a moment again to send a message to your lawmakers.

As we move forward, CASAA members and vapers everywhere should keep in mind that even in the worst case scenario of FDA deeming regulations being approved, there will likely be a grace period of two years (21 months) before the agency promises to start enforcing the rule. In that time, we are anticipating many threats to consumer access to e-cigarettes and other low-risk, smoke-free products at the state and local levels.

In advance of the 2016 legislative season, please urge your friends and family to join CASAA. Please urge your favorite retailer to display CASAA materials and educate their staff on the issues we are facing. There are millions of vapor consumers in the US, all of whom must become engaged if we hope to preserve access to these life-saving products.

We are asking consumers to express strong support for HR 2058 and urge your representatives to cosponsor this bill.

• Support HR 2058 – Send an Email

Please also print out our flyer and ask if you can post it in your local/favorite vapor shop:

• Flyer – Support HR 2058

Please share this link on social media:

• http://blog.casaa.org/2015/05/call-to-action-support-hr-2058-which.html

Thank you,

CASAA Legislative Team

Vape FAQ – Facts on vaping

What are electronic cigarettes?

Electronic cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes or personal vaporizers) are an alternative to tobacco cigarettes. They are battery-operated devices that create a mist or vapor that is inhaled instead of smoke. The rechargeable battery powers a heating element called an “atomizer.” The element uses low heat to turn liquid in the cartridge, which contains propylene glycol, glycerin, food flavoring and nicotine, into a fog-like mist.

There are many models of e-cigarettes available. Some look like traditional cigarettes, others look similar to a pen and some even look like small flashlights. Some have LED lights, some have built-in liquid reservoirs, others have combined atomizer cartridges, some are tubular and some are even rectangular boxes. They come in all shapes and sizes and have different features for former smokers who wish to distance themselves from anything resembling a traditional cigarette or want a longer battery life and/or better performance.

Are e-cigarettes safe?

While anything containing nicotine cannot be called 100% safe, evidence from numerous studies strongly suggests that they are magnitudes safer than tobacco cigarettes. Harm reduction experts can point to research supporting that switching from cigarettes to a smokefree product will reduce health risks to less than 1% of smoking traditional cigarettes – nearly the same as non-smokers. For tobacco harm reduction health professionals, it is misleading and irresponsible for public health officials to tell smokers that smokeless products, such as e-cigarettes, are “not a safe alternative to smoking” simply because they are “only” 99% safer and not 100% safe.

Do e-cigarettes contain anti-freeze?

No. This myth was created by a 2009 FDA press statement regarding electronic cigarettes. The FDA tested 18 cartridges from 2 companies. Of those 18 cartridges, 1 tested positive for a non-toxic amount of diethylene glycol (approximately 1%). While diethylene glycol is occasionally used in anti-freeze, the chemical is not a standard ingredient in e-cigarette liquid and it has not been found in any other samples tested to date.

The base liquid for e-cigarette liquid is usually propylene glycol. Propylene glycol is considered GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) by the FDA and EPA. While it is also sometimes found in anti-freeze, it is actually added to make the anti-freeze less toxic and safer for small children and pets. Propylene glycol is a common ingredient found in many of the foods we eat, cosmetics we use and medications we take. It is also used in the fog machines used in theaters and night clubs.

Do e-cigarettes cause cancer just like tobacco cigarettes?

Though testing by the FDA and some researchers have discovered trace amounts of tobacco-specific nitrosamines, which are known to cause cancer with high exposure, the amounts found were extremely low and unlikely to cause cancer. To put it in perspective, an e-cigarette contains nearly the exact same trace levels of nitrosamines as the FDA-approved nicotine patch and about 1,300 times less nitrosamines than a Marlboro cigarette. This means that e-cigarettes would not be any more likely to cause cancer than FDA-approved nicotine gums, patches or lozenges.

What about all of the news reports that e-cigarettes contain toxic chemicals and metals?

The reports that there are studies that show potential health risks due to e-cigarette use are premature. In spite of what has been reported, the studies done to date have not only been largely inconclusive, but have actually found that the levels of contaminants detected in e-cigarette liquid and vapor are so low that it is highly doubtful they would even pose a health risk. Most certainly, they are thousands of times less of a risk than continuing to smoke. The fact is, the mere “detection” of a chemical does not mean that a product is hazardous. Every day we harmlessly consume and breathe in chemicals that would be toxic at much higher levels. It is disingenuous for public health organizations that disapprove of e-cigarettes to point to the trace levels found in e-cigarette studies as conclusive evidence of a potential health risk.

Dr. Igor Burstyn, of Drexel University, reviewed all of the available chemistry on e-cigarette vapor and liquid and found that the levels reported — even in those studies that were hyped as showing there is a danger — are well below the level that is of concern. His report was peer-reviewed and published January 2014 on Bio Med Central’s Public Health Journal: “Peering through the mist: systematic review of what the chemistry of contaminants in electronic cigarettes tells us about health risks”

In 2011, The FDA issued a statement regarding the approved smoking cessation drug Chantix, which has been linked to over 500 deaths, suicidal tendencies and heart attacks. The FDA stated that “the drug’s

benefits outweigh the risks.” E-cigarettes have been on the market nearly as long as Chantix, without reports of significant adverse reactions or deaths. Studies have shown that while chemicals have been detected, they are too low to pose any significant health risks and are certainly far less exposure than found in cigarette smoke. It is clear to anyone who reviews the more than 60 available studies on e- cigarette liquids and vapor that the benefits of e-cigarettes also “far outweigh the risks.”

If there are over 60 studies of e-cigarette vapor and liquid, why do health experts say we don’t know what is in them or that they may be more dangerous than traditional cigarettes?

Good question. Unfortunately, we don’t have a clear answer. What we do know is that pharmaceutical companies do not like to see smokers switching to e-cigarettes instead of using pharmaceutical drugs and nicotine products. The pharmaceutical industry and its “foundations” fund a lot of anti-tobacco research and supports many of the anti-tobacco organizations and politicians that object to e-cigarettes and tobacco harm reduction policies.

We also know that there is a small, but very vocal, part of the public health community that is against anything that doesn’t require 100% abstinence from all tobacco and nicotine. Their objection to e- cigarettes appear to be more ideological than science-based and it seems they would rather smokers remain uncertain enough about e-cigarette safety that they will choose to keep trying to quit smoking with traditional methods instead. Unfortunately, while this may be an option for those smokers who are actively trying to quit, it keeps smokers who aren’t trying to quit – or who fail to quit using traditional methods – using the most hazardous product on the market, rather than a far safer alternative.

Are e-cigarettes approved or regulated by the FDA?

 The FDA currently considers e-cigarettes to be tobacco products. Originally, it claimed that e-cigarettes are being used as smoking cessation devices and therefore they needed to be regulated the same as pharmaceutical nicotine replacement therapy drugs (NRTs). In 2009, the FDA ordered customs officials to start seizing e-cigarette shipments coming into the country.

On April 25, 2011, FDA announced in a letter to stakeholders that it would not appeal the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in Sottera, Inc. v. Food & Drug Administration, stating that e-cigarettes and other products are not drugs/devices unless they are marketed for therapeutic purposes, but that products “made or derived from tobacco can be regulated as “tobacco products” under the FD&C Act. The FDA stated that it is aware that certain products made or derived from tobacco, such as electronic cigarettes, are not currently subject to pre-market review requirements of

the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. It is developing a strategy to regulate this “emerging class of products” as tobacco products under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Products that are marketed for therapeutic purposes will continue to be regulated as drugs and/or devices. In late 2013, the FDA submitted its regulatory proposal to the OMB.

Contrary to some media reports and comments by legislators, regulation as a “tobacco product” under FSPTCA does not mean that e-cigarettes are automatically regulated in the exact same manner as tobacco cigarettes, ie., subject to PACT, flavoring prohibitions and indoor use bans nor subject to the same tax rates. However, it does mean sales of these products to minors are finally prohibited by law.

What e-cigarette brand most looks and tastes like a real cigarette?

This is the most common question on e-cigarette forums. The best answer to that question is “none” and “it doesn’t matter.”

Since those considering e-cigarettes are usually seeking to replace tobacco cigarettes, they are under the assumption that having the most realistic, tobacco-flavored e-cigarette will bring the most satisfaction. The truth of it is that after switching to e-cigarettes for a few weeks, the vast majority of users discover that looks ultimately don’t matter – performance does. And the best performing e- cigarettes don’t necessarily look anything like traditional cigarettes because they require larger batteries. And the most popular flavors with experienced users are often as far from tobacco-tasting as one can get.

One problem is that none of the tobacco flavors really taste like burning tobacco – they taste more like fresh tobacco smells and slightly sweet. So, experienced e-cigarette users will tell you that nothing tastes exactly like a burning tobacco cigarette. But, we know you won’t believe us and insist on buying something that looks and tastes like a tobacco cigarette. That’s ok – we’ve all been there!

Can e-cigarettes help me quit smoking?

E-cigarettes are not approved to be marketed as nicotine cessation products like the nicotine gums and patches on the market. However, that doesn’t mean that some smokers haven’t found them an effective way to wean from nicotine. There is also a lot of real-world evidence and even some studies that strongly indicate that e-cigarettes are an effective alternative to smoking. Surveys show that up to 80% of e-cigarette users quit smoking traditional cigarettes while using e-cigarettes. One study showed e- cigarettes worked at least as well as the nicotine patch for nicotine replacement therapy.

However, while some users have gradually reduced the nicotine levels down to zero, the majority of e- cigarette users treat the devices as an alternate source of nicotine and not as a nicotine cessation program. So there is not as much scientific evidence yet that show how effective e-cigarettes are when used to treat or cure nicotine addiction. Yet, anecdotal reports by users who have used e-cigarettes as a way to wean from nicotine also indicates they seem to be very effective way to break smoking triggers and dramatically reduce nicotine levels. As with pharmaceutical NRTs, it depends upon the smoker and the strength of his or her addiction and resolve to quit. E-cigarettes also appear to be a much safer option for short-term use in the event of relapse.

The good news is, nicotine by itself has very low health risks, so switching to e-cigarettes can be nearly as good as quitting altogether. The most important thing for those who cannot or will not quit nicotine to do is to stop the exposure to the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke and e-cigarettes can help them do it.