Bill Godshall of Smokefree Pennsylvania to FDA Tobacco Czar Lawrence Deyton

3 Comments

1. feck makes this comment

   Saturday, 26 December 2009

   While I am generally opposed to most government involvement in the world of tobacco, I applaud Smokefree Pennsylvania's common sense approach to truthful legislation. Many hundreds of thousands of smokers die every year due to the government's refusal to acknowledge smokeless tobacco as a safer alternative for those like myself who absolutely could not quit nicotine.
   
   I'm personally kind of torn about how E Cigs should be handled. They're technically not tobacco products, though they do distribute nicotine just like gums or patches, so I feel that they should be regulated in some fashion. Just in theory and based on what limited scientific research has been done on them, they are a much safer alternative to cigarettes and I know many who have quit with E Cig technology (all it made me want to do was smoke even more real cigarettes, but that's just me). I feel that the approach that the FDA is taking right now keeps this potentially life-saving technology in a sort of legal limbo.
   
   While former smokers are turning to the unregulated wild frontier of Chinese "labs" for their E Cigs, an American manufacturer could be churning out safe, reasonably priced pharmaceutical-regulated E Cigs under the government's watchful eye. Instead, our legislators are attempting to limit a legitimate harm reduction product while they're busy trying to figure out whether they should label it fish or fowl, and to what end would allow them the most tax revenue. Meanwhile, it's the smokers that are attempting a safer alternative that are getting the short end.
   
   Pontius Pilate, when faced with the most unenviable task, asked aloud "What is truth?" Let us hope that someone in Washington asks the same question and recognizes your efforts Mr. Godshall (as well as all of ours) for being what they are.

2. Larry Waters makes this comment

   Saturday, 26 December 2009

   Well said, Bill. I would take exception to the implication of stating 95% of all ex-smokers quit cold turkey. Of those cigarette smokers who have managed to quit cold turkey (and good for them!), sadly over 95% of the nicotine-addicted return to cigarettes within 5 years of their quitting. I certainly did...many times.
   
   Those who do revert back to cigarettes often feel the cigarettes have beaten them and they just can't quit. If they try again, the attempt is much weaker and more unsuccessful.
   
   E-Cigarettes I'm a little uncomfortable with at this time for the same reasons Feck mentioned just as I am uncomfortable with the quality, manufacturing methods, ingredients, and intentions of practically all American snus manufacturers. The more I learn from behind the bamboo curtain about current e-cigarettes, their true nicotine content, and the intentions of Chinese manufacturers, the less comfortable I am. Like the Swedish Government did 30 years ago, FDA does need to step up and ensure that tobacco consumers are making informed decisions.
   
   Smokefree Pennsylvania's submission to FDA is a sensible, realistic, and common sense approach to tobacco regulation. I hope FDA has the willingness to take your recommendations to heart.
   
   

3. Brian Scanlon makes this comment

   Saturday, 26 December 2009

   Refreshing article. This fellow seems like he has a reasonable approach. Hopefully mindsets like his become the norm within our nation's legislative branches.