Vaping In The News covers nicotine, smoking, vaping, snus, heat not burn, e-cigarettes, harm reduction, tobacco control, public health, government, regulations, policies & more worldwide.
The largest threat to Public Health is an informed consumer.
Vape shop owner: I quit smoking thanks to vaping. Banning flavors hurts adults like me ~ American Lung Association’s Lies About E-Cigarettes are Dangerous and Irresponsible ~ Although Teenagers Are 80% Less Likely to Smoke Than They Were in 1999, the CDC Insists No Progress Has Been Made ~ Read between the lines ~ Tweets of the week ~ Christmas for Massachusetts Vape Families ~ Grinch Relief Fund ~ Curiosity ~ Obsolete tobacco control themes can be hazardous to public health ~ Silly thoughts ~ Smoke-Free Radio
Vape shop owner: I quit smoking thanks to vaping. Banning flavors hurts adults like me
This is from Nick Orlando himself.
“We’ve built a community. Our stores are not just places for people to buy vapor products for recreational use. My stores are educational spaces for adult smokers to feel comfortable visiting and coming in to ask questions and learn how to quit a habit that could kill them…”
American Lung Association’s Lies About E-Cigarettes are Dangerous and Irresponsible
Dr. Siegel once again slaps the stupid out of some strange decision by the Lung Association to… Well, they’re out of ideas, so they’re going all out on propaganda.
Although Teenagers Are 80% Less Likely to Smoke Than They Were in 1999, the CDC Insists No Progress Has Been Made
Jacob Sullum – explains this no progress thingy much better than I can:
That is true only if you define tobacco-free e-cigarettes as “tobacco products,” which the CDC does, and if you ignore the enormous difference between the hazards of smoking and the hazards of vaping, which the CDC also does.
Next — Greg Conley takes an idiot to task, and the idiot tries to ignore it. Something about water…
Today @GregTHR stated clearly the danger posed by illicit TCH to New Jersey residents. @herbconaway told him that he didn't care to warn NJ residents because it would get in the way of his plans. pic.twitter.com/aoHwHQfXZ0
Next, and importantly, there was some ruckus about a survey this week. Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW clearly explains there are “major issues with how they present their findings” in this thread… you can see them all if you click on the original tweet. (If you’re not on Twitter, join!!!)
The 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) results are out. And there are some major issues with how they present their findings.
To keep children safe, we MUST demand to remove curiosity, intrigue, and inquisitiveness from blatant subliminal advertising from any and all non-profit-political-non-governmental-front-groups immediately.
Please, “Think of the children™.”
So that got someone to thinking on Facebook… and said to me – “the curiosity figure is 2.5 times higher than flavours, wouldn’t that be an increase of 151%, roughly?”
Well… there you go. Subliminal messaging: 151% stronger than flavors.
Relentless laser-targeted ads by anti-tobacco groups @truthinitiative & @TobaccoFreeKids on social media & TV campaigns fueled curiosity.
Enticed-vulnerable youth were tricked, unable to resist temptation to try vaping products.
Obsolete tobacco control themes can be hazardous to public health
Skip tossed this one at me just before finishing the news today…
“It is important to make clear distinctions between the classes of tobacco/nicotine products as they differ substantially in risk to the user…”
Are they SO far out of touch with reality they can’t do their jobs, or are they completely in tune to what they’re doing… adults are told they’re addicted to nicotine, and “keep trying” with inefficient products. Kids are blitzed with products they shouldn’t use or have access to… yet here we are.
If any of them already knew it was curiosity, not flavors, that the pesky children chose as an answer… then…. yeah… you think I’m reaching. Understandable, I know – he wasn’t in a court of law… but think about it.
Smoke-Free Radio.
I join Patrick and Fig on Smoke-Free Radio on Friday nights. We were being thankful…and we were saying it… because it isn’t said enough. There were thousands I’m sure we missed — even if you weren’t mentioned by name last week, we thanked you, and people like you.
Vaping In The News covers nicotine, smoking, vaping, snus, heat not burn, e-cigarettes, harm reduction, tobacco control, public health, government, regulations, policies & more worldwide.
The largest threat to Public Health is an informed consumer.
Bloomberg Grant ~ Sources of youth access to JUUL vaping products in the United States ~ FDA faces fire from researchers saying it has not prioritized e-cigarette testing ~ Tweet of the Week ~ Truth Initiative Logo ~ NYC Flavor Ban Passes as Vapers Throw Money at the Council ~ Grinch Relief Fund ~ CPSC Will Go After Vape Shops That Violate Bottle Rules ~ Harm Reduction ~ End The Lies
Bloomberg Grant
Fine, the actual title isn’t “Bloomberg Grant”. By giving the CDC Foundation (not the CDC itself – see 3rd question here) some money… that the title I chose, and the “upstanding purpose” he’s trying to (legally) hide behind, are both misleading.
“the CDC Foundation received a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies to monitor and evaluate e-cigarette use”
In a recent presentation at a CO City Council meeting, the Rocky Mountain Smoke-Free Alliance directly quoted the @truthinitiative in a presentation on vaping. How did the Initiative respond? By threatening legal action. Clearly their lawyer doesn't know what "fair use" means. pic.twitter.com/JspaPrar8y
President Trump asked to have a conversation with public health and vaping industry organizations. The purpose of the meeting was to get “representatives of the Vaping industry, together with medical professionals and individual state representatives” to “come up with an acceptable solution to the Vaping and E-cigarette dilemma. Children’s health & safety, together with jobs, will be a focus!”, according to his tweet.
If the President invited me to sit face to face with him along side of those who may not agree with science and data I’d be explaining, I’d certainly read the invite and be prepared to… Well, I’d take reasonable steps above and beyond to accommodate – by offering an acceptable, comprehensivesolution he was asking for.
Now, remember, dear reader – he specifically said “come up with an acceptable solution” in his purpose, so there may be a test.
For public health, seasoned representatives were there, some with 30 or more years in their position. They need less than two sentences of attention from me, and <—these were it.
Also included in the meeting were were Mitt Romney, Joe Grogan, Kelly Ann Conway, Health and Human Services (allegedly unbias and science-based) Secretary Azar among others.
The other side (with the exception of Juul) representing mostly small businesses (who represent consumers) were also seasoned representatives. Scott Eley, Gregory Conley, Tony Abboud, Reynolds, Njoy, at least one rep for convenience stores, and Americans for Tax Reform.
The President didn’t wast time. He was inquisitive with everyone, asking for, but not always listening to solutions as a response to his questions. Public health group responses to his questions were the same, with variations, referring to his decision from September 11th to ban all flavors except tobacco. The other group, except for one, contributed to the conversation with solutions.
Freedom of choice for millions of ex-smokers and the ability to navigate that right with flavors were the literal discussionin the White House. The conversationjust changed for access to less harmful alternatives on a national scale.
Until now, we have NEVER had a seat in front of the President of the United States. WOW. I don’t think he knew (we, the people) less harmful alternativesexisted until he flew over us on November 9th of this year.
WE the people exposed “Public Health” by applying both social and political pressure and offering solutions “they” could not come up with 👉 in front of sitting President.
Timeline:
With more than a decade of use by consumers, science and data (links to that are all over this blog), a decade of advocacy groundwork had also been laid long before I came along in 2014.
Summer- 2019: Unscrupulous “health” organizations took an opportunity to falsely blameillness and deaths on legal vaping products. In fact, “samples from 29 patients with “EVALI submitted to CDC from 10 states found vitamin E acetate in all of the samples.” Vitamin E acetate was used in THC-containing products. (Link to source)
September 9th: The First Lady (Flotus) tweeted concern of an “epidemic of e-cigarette use in our children”.
September 10th: In the early morning (6:54 AM) hours, gazillionaire Bloomberg announced he was spending $160M on an initiative with Tobacco-Free Kids to ban flavored e-cigarettes
September 10th: Later that day, Flotus tweeted a Washington Post article at 12:03 P.M. (Yes I noticed the times on Bloomberg and Flotus’s tweets)
September 11th: Secretary Azar announces he will be “finalizing policies that will clear flavored e-cigarettes from the market.”
September 13th: President Trump tweeted: “While I like the Vaping alternative to Cigarettes, we need to make sure this alternative is SAFE for ALL! Let’s get counterfeits off the market, and keep young children from Vaping!”
September 18th: small businesses of Vapor Technology Association went to Washington, D.C. with solutions in hand to representatives.
September 18th: Paul Blair explained voters are clearly an issue for the President.
Frustrated consumers & business owners already tweeting and calling the White House in opposition of a flavor ban, and these efforts became more intense.
November 1st, Trump announced the ban of flavors the following week.
November 4th, “White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) canceled all remaining meetings with stakeholders” as Jim McDonald reported here, and Dimitris Agrafiotis tweeted here.
Saturday – November 9th – two months after the First Lady tweeted her first concerns, WE, chose to exercise our freedom of assembly in our nation’s capital. We, the people didn’t just go to Washington, D.C., we were standing in our own yard.
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November 11th:
TWO days after the rally. Coincidence? I think not.
NO one could have predicted this. Bright and early on November 11th, at 9:00 AM, we knew were being listened to.
I’m poaching Schell Hammel’s words: This was a defining moment.
The President of the United States tweeted:
“Will be meeting with representatives of the Vaping industry, together with medical professionals and individual state representatives, to come up with an acceptable solution to the Vaping and E-cigarette dilemma. Children’s health & safety, together with jobs, will be a focus!”
Will be meeting with representatives of the Vaping industry, together with medical professionals and individual state representatives, to come up with an acceptable solution to the Vaping and E-cigarette dilemma. Children’s health & safety, together with jobs, will be a focus!
Finally, on November 22nd, President Trump met with various invited groups and gave them an opportunity, *asking* for solutions.
While you and I can agree or disagree with finer points and details of the conversation, representatives invited from the vaping industry (except for Juul), didoffer solutions. After all, we were having a conversation with the President. I had -0- concerns for who kept their composure in the face to face with those trying to take our freedoms away, and those offering solutions for me in front of President Trump.
These people were fighting most importantly, for millions of former smokers and future smokers who have the human right to CHOOSE the option of flavors and the right to less harmful products. They were also fighting for thousands of small businesses, thousands more of their employees, customers (you and me), and more employed in various ancillary functions.
WE WERE CHANGING THE CONVERSATION INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE.
We were offering SOLUTIONS inside the WHITE HOUSE.
Sorry I yelled. No I’m not.
This was a defining moment.
The eyes of the world were upon us. Again. Here are key personal takeaways from this historical meeting:
Thirteen days after the vaping community and the world watched the Washington, D.C. rally on November 9th, the whole world waited in anticipation to see this meeting unfold.
President Trump wasn’t operating in a bubble. He was concerned, he was engaging. For a change, we weren’t in facing a one-sided wall of resistance. The media couldn’t report it the way they wanted to. No press could spin or invert the narrative of one side. We all witnessed the same exchanges.
We were not being told we only had three minutes. Instead, we publicly voiced concerns and were offering solutions with an opportunity that has been actively foughtfor years – represented in the highest office in the land.
WE were well-prepared with answers.
We were articulate with safety and standards
We were armed with data, science, and solutions.
Public health (“they”) didn’t present answers. They presented the same narrative – that children are breaking laws, and proposed absolute bans.
Trump DID ask great questions. He was attentive, and at times, curious. At one point he asked:
“If we take out flavors, won’t they just be made illegally?”
Tony Abboud “this is the new vapor industry, not the old tobacco industry”.
It was CLEAR Trump understood THC deaths and illnesses ARE a separate issue.
Like it (I don’t) or not, “Tobacco 21” looks like it will be law of land – eventually. Trump leaned in and it said, “we need to do that”.
He did NOT like the idea of a ban with valid fears of a black market – and kids doing what kids may do. He understood while kids are an issue, adults are an issue. He asked very specific questions – he asked from a business point of view.
Because President Trump didn’t like a black market, he also quickly realized the “public health” representatives were parroting his words and did not have a solution.
Importantly, President Trump asked questions about less harm. Gregory Conley explained it to him.
President Trump reiterates his understanding by giving Tony Abboud a chance to speak.
He understood flavors.
He was looking for and likes to know about:
Economical impact.
Job numbers. Employment.
He understands math and votes.
Now, he also understands adult access.
Trump understands safety. Secretary Azar mentions “health claims” at the end – and lies, stating there is “no evidence” (Yes there is – Gottlieb spoke about this, so has Azar) (there is plenty) and they will go after companies who make those claims.
Trump seemed painfully aware of the body parts groups focusing on the children™ without any substance. His question asked for their solution.
This time there was no controlled environment – no national stage to speak and walk away from. It wasn’t just their narrative. They were – for the first time in history-not in charge or control of the conversation.
See, the thing about the industry representatives is – they were listening. They were interacting with the President. Those allegedly representing “public health“, political front group NGOs were not listening. They simply waited to reply to him. If data, science, or less harmful alternatives was mentioned – they tried to drown it out by repeating various angles of their nursery rhyme – “Think of the children”™.
By the reaction and follow up questions by President Trump, it seemed he was well aware of their tactics. It seemed each time he asked any of the “health” body parts groups for a solution, he received the same scripted answers and reactions (in no particular order):
If smokers and less harmful alternatives are brought up: “Everyone talk at once“!
Drown out and talk over anything to do with harm reduction, data, science, law, or jobs
Adhering to and referring Trump to his original plan of bans made them look arrogant and unprepared. He already changed his mind once. By using that strategy – in my opinion – it showed their only motive and insulted his intelligence. We all know who they are.
In fact, as I watched – “their” strategy, I couldn’t help thinking their approach was narrowly thought out. After all the years of doing what they do, they never had and didn’t prepare, a concrete solution. Confident in advance, they didn’t think it was necessary for any solution but their own. They didn’t need – forgive me for the gratuitous pun – an alternative solution. What exactly is it they “do” again? They don’t have answers.
We were prepared, articulate, and brought multiple solutions to the table.
I don’t recall political front groups mentioning or demanding cigarettes come off the market immediately.
We all know we got exactly what we expected from the body parts groups. That doesn’t matter. The focus on harm reduction, of insane policies being proposed, the exact same concern for children as the front groups have, and the importance of flavors became clearer to President Trump – as long as we were heard over their incessant chanting.
So what will come of this meeting?
In no particular order:
Did the stance of the one-sided morality crusade persuade President Trump once he heard both sides?
Did we raise and a much larger concern in his mind for public health, freedom of individual choices for less harmful products, and is there hope for the process of democracy in our county?
Can there be change in restrictive local/state regulations?
Are we able to say we’ve changed the conversation nationally?
Will this change the course of the industry and harm reduction?
Will the alleged “health” groups stop denying science and data?
This photo was blatantly poached, snagged and stolen from one of these two attorneys for the purposes of this blog.
I hope I don’t miss anyone participating in this meeting, but I want to thank (in no particular order):
Every single one of you, who called the White House, tweeted, hash-tagged, made some noise… (and will continue to do so!), and all who have come before us, to advocate for less harmful choices to smoking.
@realDonaldTrump, a man who’s never smoked a cigarette, spends the time to make sure that his Administration gets the policy right for the American people. As usual. pic.twitter.com/OkDzkr9cBA
Not only did they not want cigarettes banned @VapinGreek they offered zero solutions to the real problem! Just proves more that it never was about the youth! @realDonaldTrump asked for solutions! They answered with prohibition! Even when he said it would create a larger BM! https://t.co/UYBxJ6VqiI
While we can all armchair quarterback and “would’ve / could’ve” this meeting until the cows come home… I am proud of the ruckus, I am hopeful there will be more meetings with President Trump and urge him to take positive steps to change national conversationswith consumers – our voices, represented by CASAA. We need to continue to CHANGE the conversation daily. To be louder. To show up at hearings. ALL the stuff you already know.
You can watch the complete coverage of President Trump’s discussion unfold here.
Run-on sentence alert bonus:
If you told me back on May 23rd of 2013 I would create a blog, author a survey, email & call local, state and federal officials, tweet like a madman, participate in state organization meetings, come to despise and distrust what I thought was the epitome of “public health“, travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to see a 1 1/2 hour movie, make friends around the country and worldwide, publicly challenge the claim of addiction to nicotine, travel to Washington D.C. to rally against my own government to protest a ban less harmful products because officials calling themselves “public health”demanded it, and then see some of those people I admire take a seat at the table with the President of the United States because my wife and I quit smoking… I’d have told you to pound sand.
This photo was blatantly poached, snagged and stolen from one of these two attorneys for this, and another pending blog.
Yesterday, We, the people exposed “Public Health” by applying both social and political pressure and offered a solution they “couldn’t” come up with in front of sitting President.
Vaping In The News covers nicotine, smoking, vaping, snus, heat not burn, e-cigarettes, harm reduction, tobacco control, public health, government, regulations, policies & more worldwide.
The largest threat to Public Health is an informed consumer.
“Small Vape” Stood Up for Itself at the White House ~ Trump Hears From Vaping Opponents, Industry Executives ~ Remarks by President Trump in a Listening Session ~ Heart Association Claims Tweet Of The Week ~ Regulatory Restriction of E-Vapor Products Under International Human Rights Law ~ Is the USA coming to its senses on e-cigarettes (and cigarettes)? ~ Ethan Nadelman ~ Open Letter to the American Heart Association ~ NGO’s Can’t Quit Lying ~ Heads Should Roll at CDC after Botched Vaping Investigation ~ Vaping and Public Health: Fact vs Fiction ~ Vape Debate: Are e-cigarettes wiping out teen smoking?
“Small Vape” Stood Up for Itself at the White House
Longest blog title of the week goes to: Dr. Siegel !
While American Heart Association Claims E-Cigarettes are as Harmful as Smoking, a Clinical Trial Shows Immediate Cardiovascular Improvement After Smokers Switched to E-Cigarettes
Always offering information – and common sense… the E-Cigarette Summit offers this video (and more) of Ethan Nadelman. I strongly suggest listening to the “Founder and former executive director (2000-17) of the Drug Policy Alliance” and follow him on Twitter as well:
While we’re still waiting on President Trump to make decisions on banning flavors of less harmful products, or keeping them on the market, the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) posing as “public health” have no real interest in the health of the public, are politically and financially motivated. They can’t quit lying, and have completely lost their minds.
Credibility and trust is lost
Can they quit lying? I didn’t think I’d have to use their own words against them, but I personally tracked down, quoted, and linked the hard to find (often halfhearted but necessary to voice – just to cover their asses) these comments and positions of these NGO’s and government officials for a reason. THR4Life also took the time explaining to consumers the positions of many of these organizations in a blog called “What consumers need to know“.
Now, some have chosen to lose their comprehension of less harm and replace it with fear and hysteria, and here we are.
If it were about smoking and public health, NGO’s would take advantage of the all-time (13.7%) lowest smoking rates EVER by supporting (and making public perception better) the less harmful alternatives like snus and vaping products. Instead, not only are NGO’s lying, they’re telling small businesses (and consumers like you and me) to quit lying. Doing so is misleading the public. Period.
THC deaths and illnesses gave them their only advantage to confuse the public lie to the public with malice. With that, they stretched the lies further by pointing directly at “youth” initiation, and directly blame flavors (and marketing) for something anyone under 18 (21 in some states) are illegally purchasing.
Quit Lying.
It is they who cannot quit lying. In the quest to flip their narrative, irresponsible tactics of NGO’s have completely ignored “substantial and immediate benefits” of Harm Minimization with less harmful products like snus and vaping products.
They are using their influence to lie to the public (consumers who need proper information) and ultimately – the world.
When will they quit lying?
They’ve consistently justified “keeping potential consumers of legal products ignorant about this information” and withheld differential risks of less harmful products.
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American Heart Association
The American Heart Association (AHA) decided to start a campaign called “Quit Lying” last week – including what I considered a wonderful hashtag.
I’ll let Dr. Brad Rodu explain the hypocrisy of the political front group no, that’s not it. Body parts no, that’s not it either… oh yeah, the AHA’s actions here:
The American Cancer Society has revised their position by saying “The revision seeks to clarify ACS guidelines in light of recent spikes in e-cigarette use among youth and young adults, combined with the lack of regulation by the FDA.”
Noted:
Cliff Douglas (below) is “VP for Tobacco Control, American Cancer Society, and faculty, University of Michigan School of Public Health.”
I’m not sure if he had a moment of clarity or guilt, but I give him crap when he’s being obstinate, so I’ll give him kudos for tweeting this today.
The group most often neglected in our conversations about vaping is current cigarette smokers. Although smoking prevalence today is at an all-time low of 13.7%, smoking is increasingly concentrated among the most vulnerable …" https://t.co/hhi0KWjVNQ
Now it seems thousands of members of another NGO, the American Medical Association ( I can’t technically call this political front group a “body parts organization”)
So – thousands of medical professionals suddenly can’t seem to recognize the difference between clearly tainted, illegal products, and less harmful alternatives because they are “not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as smoking cessation tools”?
Note: The American Lung Association has never stated anything positive about vaping products to my knowledge.
I noticed around 2014 – if a “public health” official’s lips are moving, they’re probably lying. They’ve never stopped.
In light of Trump wanting the industry to be taxed $100 million a year, (that CONSUMERS will incur) and the uncertainly of who the “diverse group of advocacy, industry, non-profits, medical associations, and state officials” President Trump is meeting with on Friday, can we trust Trump with the heavy influence of NGO’s above?
Between saying flavors will be banned, cancelling meetings with the Office of Budget and Management, the D.C. rally on the White House lawn, THOUSANDS of tweets like #WeVapeWeVote and #15Sec4Vape , letters, phone calls to the White House – and pressure from other sources, will Trump come to his senses?
This was tweeted while writing this blog
It seems there WILL be opportunity to change the conversation… Jim McDonald covers that here:
“That means the independent vaping industry and consumers will be represented at the meeting.”
After all, if consumers don’t have a voice at OUR table, I ask government to enforce the current laws, parents to parent their children and leave adults alone.
Vaping In The News covers nicotine, smoking, vaping, snus, heat not burn, e-cigarettes, harm reduction, tobacco control, public health, government, regulations, policies & more worldwide.
The largest threat to Public Health is an informed consumer.
Landmark study ~ The Corruption of Public Health ~ The War Against E-Cigarettes Is Profoundly Wrong ~ Rep. Lakeshia Myers ~ Vaping Industry Defends Right To Use Legal Products ~ #QuitLYING #EndTheLies, American Heart Association ~ Our Voices: We, The People ~ Rally, BOSTON, Massachusetts ~ Vape ban Violators face fines, loss of cars ~ E-Cig Summit Round Up 2019 ~ Say No to a Senate Bill That Will Ban Vape Mail! ~ SNUS
Landmark study identifies cardiovascular benefits as early as 1 month after switching from smoking to e-cigarette use
” The National Institutes of Health has supported activist researchers who’ve manipulated evidence to hype risks of vaping and falsely claim that it is causing an upsurge in smoking by young people.”
John Tierney dives straight in and doesn’t come up for air.
Here’s a politician who not only gets it by tweeting Ron Johnson’s article, she solidifies her position by making her position known – “To ban vaping is a premature reaction.”
Kudos to you, Rep. Myers for publicly standing up.
To ban vaping is a premature reaction. Banning vape flavors would close down viable small businesses in our state. The issue at hand is not vaping; the deaths that we’ve seen recently have everything to do with what alternative substances people are putting inside vape pens.
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Vaping Industry Defends Right To Use Legal Products
No stranger to media, James Jarvis is in this most recent video:
Vaping Industry Defends Right To Use Legal Products
#QuitLYING #EndTheLies, American Heart Association
Unhappy with the lowest smoking rates ever, The American Heart Association – a non-governmental organization has decided they want to use the hashtags “#quitlying” and “#endthelies” on Twitter to accompany their use of the 1st Amendment to claims of “Big Vape“, to:
Gaslight the public
Strongarm small businesses
Use children to manipulate laws
Use political pressure to restrict adult choice
Who, or what, is next?
Someone tell Nancy she’s making this very easy for me…
They must have forgotten the Boston Tea Party. So, under this bill – you could face $5,000 for a first offense and up to $25,000 for multiple violations. The provisions allow police to seize untaxed vaping products as well as a “motor vehicle, boat or airplane……….. another example of lawmakers demanding everything up front – and settling for “less”, but even I can’t believe my eyes.
James Dunworth can now write about the 7th E-Cig Summit under his belt, and don’t fool yourself or others — there’s ALWAYS information you haven’t heard.
Over the weekend, I took a little trip to Washington, D.C. to exercise my first amendment rights with a few friends. It’s kind of a thing, speaking my mind. Knock, knock, Mr. President.
On Friday, while I traveled to D.C., President Trump stated they’d be coming out with a “very important position on vaping” and mentioned raising the age to “21 or so”, as reported here. I saw that on the eve of what would be, in my mind, a historic showing of consumers the following afternoon. On September 11th, he’d already stated bans were coming.
It didn’t matter what I heard. The Office of Management and Budget had already cancelled appointments the week before. None of that mattered, we were already knocking on hisWE, The People’s door. We were prepared to make a unified statement about our CHOICE for less harmful products remaining available.
Many had already arrived, more were on the way, and you could feel the passion.
I want to thank EVERYONE wearing those vests. They were invaluable in keeping this rally safe and smooth.
They said it couldn’t be done
Humor me: If you’d told me I was going to be in D.C. – at the White House – because I stopped smoking….. well – here I was with what I hoped to be thousands of others. Why? Because we’re adults. Because we’re consumers. And small businesses. And we’re all frustrated and angry.
We were in our nation’s capital – to have our voices heard, to exercise our rights and responsibility: “The right to freedom of association is recognized as a human right, a political right and a civil liberty” as so many had done before us.
We’ve been completely dismissed… ignored. Preempted, with hostility. Talked down to. Talked over. Not included in the conversation. We’ve been lied to in court hearings, lied about in the press. Small businesses (and consumers) have been accused of “marketing to children“.
For YEARS…
…we’ve been called what could not be further from the truth: Addicts, Anecdotes, Bots, Impugners, Sheep, Shills, and worse. (I am kind of fond of being called a bot, though.)
For YEARS…
…despite the fact that there are plenty of examples of reasonable regulatory steps, “trusted public health experts” and non-governmental organizations quietly sit with mouths clamped shut, standing with hands open, choosing demanding (and hiding cowardly behind) Master Settlement Agreement funding, instead of putting forth effort by making an already less harmful choice for the world – better.
THOSE people hide behind the illusion of “helping”.
I’d heard “we should go to Washington” so many times, I didn’t care if there were 9 people or 90, or 900, or 9,000.
For YEARS…
…we’ve watched politicians demanding (and recently invoking) bans for anything but cigarettes. We’ve watched media vultures – gnawing on every buzzword like “deaths” of unrelated, illegal products – to bring it all full circle… to regulate, restrict, tax & ban any and all forms of less harmful products, and flavors.
So yeah, I was excitedly in our nation’s capital… with a growing crowd of pissed off people fighting peacefully for freedom of choice against the threat of BANS of less harmful adult flavored products for everyone across the country, and quite possibly the world. If they could get away with this, what other abuse of power and criminal acts can non-governmental organizations and “public health ‘experts” get away with? Knock, knock, Mr. President.
NO more.
If you build it, they will come
While it may not have looked difficult for this to have been accomplished, preparations and logistics HAD to be handled. This was White House property. There was National Park Service & Secret Service to coordinate EVERYTHING with. There were all volunteer marshals for safety & logistics – and it couldn’t have been done without them in place.
The United Vapers Alliance planned & coordinated anything and everything that could have been thought of (<-video). This was not just pulling into the park with the family and having a picnic. This was the nation’s capital. Anyone or everyone “could” have been removed at any time by the National Park Service or Secret Service at their discretion – for the slightest infraction.
There were rules for everyone to follow & abide by. Restrooms were at least a ten-minute walk away. A first aid station. Assigned people for talking to the media. There were to be no bags left unattended. Permits to be obtained. We wanted to be HEARD, so stage and sound had to be rented and set up. Signs were ordered. Radios were needed. The coordination and the flow of speakers… cleanup… and leaving the park just the way we’d found it.
All we were waiting on were YOU, the people. We knew they were coming from Alaska, Georgia, Tennessee… New York… Ohio… Florida… and they were coming by the busload… some were already in the park and coordinating the days event.
Wait… Secret Service said we had to vacate the area, (we knew it could happen) because President Trump was flying out. When the Secret Service says move, you MOVE. Most went across the street to the Washington Monument.
This photo was stolen approximately one gazillion times from, and credit to: John Glauser
While almost everyone waited across the street, the President flew directly OVERHEAD… so he SAW us… He must have thought – that many people must be serious if they’re willing to travel, stay, congregate, and assemble peacefully as WE, the PEOPLE, in Washington, D.C. on a cold Saturday afternoon.
“History is full of disapproval of or objection to something “someone else” didn’t like.” ~ Me.
President Trump was gone, but We, The PEOPLE, were NOT.
The Secret Service were extremely kind and held traffic for us WE, The PEOPLE to get back across Constitution Ave. Here we are streaming back into the park after the flyover.
Back to business at hand, folks – back in the park we go. We’re coming back in…and more were almost here on various buses. (One of my photos.)
YOU, the people, came.
The vast majority of us use flavors. We’ve TOLD them that. It has been submitted to the FDA. Without linking it all, authorities HAVE data.
We came to speak our collective minds. We were #LOUDER. (Thanks, Sherwin!) We are, and have been tired of being lied to, lied about, and ignored.
Speakers spoke. The crowd listened. “We Vape, We Vote“.
How many were in the crowd? I don’t know the total number in attendance at this historic event, but I know I missed finding and meeting some of you. That’s how many came. So, speculation of numbers? More than 9, more than 90, and more than 900. Hats, hoodies & sunglasses disguised (us) some of you – but I found a few… gratefully, a few, like Amanda Wheeler, found me!
The amazing Amanda Wheeler & I!
I wandered around – surfing the crowd –like a bot– listening to the speakers. Taking photos, taking the moment in – still dumbfounded I was standing in eyesight of the WHITE HOUSE with thousands of others who had simplyquit smoking, having to FIGHT for our rights to flavors because we didn’t quit smokingthe way “they” wanted us to.
Another image stolen by me and probably thousands of others by now (I don’t know who to credit!)
I saw familiar digital faces, some I didn’t recognize until I heard their name. I shook hands, got hugs, saw Brent Stafford from Regulator Watch covering the event. (See his site for interviews!!!)
Then, while behind the stage I heard Business Insider, Buzzfeed, CNN, Fox, NBC, NPR, and Vice (who said the rally “was relentlessly sincere“), were also there.
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I said to myself and others about 5,000 times Saturday: “Holy shit, I’m in front of the White House. It’s about F’n TIME”. And just like that, harm reduction-this cause, is national news…
Whether you came or not, if you read this blog, YOU had a place here in Washington, D.C. on November 9th. YOUR consumer voice was represented. If you weren’t there, you were tweeting and flooding the switchboards (ring, ring, Mr. President) with calls to the White House.
I proudly carried this sign.
“We vape, we vote”.
What was the message? The message was “to educate the public and politicians regarding the benefits of harm reduction via vapor products, and will strongly convey that changes must be made, within the FDA, to provide an economically feasible pathway to market.” (Source) including FLAVORS.
Was the effort and collaboration of consumers showing their faces in D.C. worth it? Hell yes.
Was it “worth it” to get national press, and for our President, the leader of the free world, explaining on Veteran’s Day, that he’d be meeting to come up with an acceptable solution in less than 48 hours after the event?
Pay attention to CASAA’s words: “...the MAIN STAKEHOLDERS in this issue are the millions of voting CONSUMERSwho rely on these products.”
BREAKING NEWS: @realDonaldTrump meeting with "industry." That should NOT just mean tobacco companies, but small businesses! And the MAIN STAKEHOLDERS in this issue are the millions of voting CONSUMERS who rely on these products. Consumer reps should be included in these meetings! https://t.co/1GarR3FSgk
By any means, this isn’t over. This fight has just begun.
Consumers need small businesses, and small businesses need organizationswho represent them all – to have their collective voices heard.
Two months after announcing his administration would “clear the market”- to the day, he decided he will “be meeting with representatives of the Vaping industry”.
Did this rally give pressure to change the President’s MIND or give pause to his decisions concerning our freedoms? I certainly hope so.
Will this event be analyzed or criticized? Possibly, yes.
Without question, We conducted ourselves in a civilized manner – and had some of the loudest voices in the nation representing you, the people, in a civilized manner.
I have hope that if you were unable to attend this event, you tweeted, called the White House, and saw that if it can be done in Washington, D.C., it can be done anywhere in the country.
I hope it inspires and motivates you to DO that very same thing in your area, and to show up at city and state hearings. I hope it inspires you to be #louder.
Thank YOU.
I’d like to thank ALL donors, speakers, organizations, and importantly, the marshals and all the attendees for showing up to help make this event HAPPEN. I’d like to thank the Secret Service and National Park Service staff for guidance and information crucial to having a successful event.
I thank consumers and small businesses who couldn’t make it, but called the White House, and tweeted, and write their representatives, and continue to keep awareness up all the time.
I thank Sherwin Mena, Tristan Thompson, Matthew Salter, Tammy Michaud, Matthew Elliott, Allen Davis, Cory Amedio, and Matt Culley for allowing me to join them in what was a pivotal and historic moment and effort for this community and cause I love dearly. Fighting for themselves, each other, you, small businesses, and future smokers who have the RIGHT to choose to switch to a less harmful alternative, with flavors of their choice…
Mike Peterson chats with Sherwin Mena, Nick Orlando, and James Jarvis about the rally here.
Jim McDonald just released his article about the rally over at Vaping 360, you can read it HERE.
On a personal note – I reflected quietly – with my mind racing on the drive home… about the awe-inspiring experience, realizing I’d been a part of history. I was VERY proud of us.
In hindsight, I have just one regret for November 9th… I didn’t think to call the White House to oppose a flavor ban between speakers, and invite the President to come visit us from the stage myself… of course, he’d already left for a football game.
If you’re going to Washington D.C. for this consumer rally, I hope to shake your hand. If you’re unable to attend, please know you are being represented by some of the most passionate consumers in the country who are defending your rights (and future rights of others) for keeping flavored products and less harmful alternatives on the market. Period.
The history of the United States is full of motivated people. Immigrants came to find a better life, traveling in uncomfortable conditions for a better life, seeking freedom and civil liberties…
In 1920, the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote.
Rosa Parks sat down on a bus in 1955 to defy unjust laws saying she couldn’t.
In 1963, there was a civil rights movement called the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom where Martin Luther King gave his iconic “I have a dream” speech.
In the 1970’s, students were gunned down here in Ohio at Kent State for protesting the bombing of Cambodia by U.S. forces.
In the 1980’s, protesting went directly to the FDA while their broken system would turn law abiding citizens, AIDS patients, into criminals.
What else will they take from Americans?
I’ve heard – since 2014 – we should go to Washington, D.C. and protest for our, and future rights to have access to less harmful alternatives. Now we are going… Like many before us, we will have our collective voices heard.
Is our cause as important as a right to vote or a right to have a seat on a bus over another? I believe it is the the exact same fight. Those same people expressed their rights, in the same way facing disapproval of, or objection to something “someone else” didn’t like. In our case, unjust laws, junk science, propaganda, and control are still being utilized to deny freedom and liberty of choice with the same disapproval and objection.
The freedom of assembly is part of our First Amendment. I plan, with a few of my friends and fellow consumers, to exercise that right in Washington, D.C. on November 9th.
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The World IS Watching.
We are consumers. If you CAN attend this historic rally, you are taking your seat on the proverbial bus. This is FEDERAL property. Please know the do’s and don’t list.
On November 3rd, this is where we discussed logistics, planning and rules to the rally.
Please see Jim McDonald’s take on this here (short videos within from both Matt Cully & Grimm Green.)
Vaping In The News covers nicotine, smoking, vaping, snus, heat not burn, e-cigarettes, harm reduction, tobacco control, public health, government, regulations, policies & more worldwide.
The largest threat to Public Health is an informed consumer.
The Big Shutdown ~ The vaping study ~ Truth About Vaping – Episode 3 “The Simple Truth” ~ A Billion Lives ~ Big NICOTINE ~ Vape Ban Could Swing Election Against Trump ~ The Real Nightmare This Halloween ~ #VapeRallyDC2019
The Big Shutdown
My favorite #CrankyOldBroad had an idea of documenting the devastation of small businesses around the US on Twitter. Dave explains:
With this next one, I want you to highlight a couple things. Data is still data. Individuals are still, like when I did my survey, determined – in any way they can, to not let the government lie. Here’s another place to go…
I’ve been in the Big Sheep, Big Impugners, Big Vaping and other double-secret groups, but I’ve never wanted to be in such an elite group like Big Nicotine SO bad… I’d almost give up my #BigBot status to do so!!!
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Vape Ban Could Swing Election Against Trump
I’m not sure how President Trump will understand the basis of his decision allowing appointed staff to lie to him may just be the basis of his demise. Remember how shocked “everyone” was when he was elected… who will be stunned in #election2020?
I’ll be telling him with a bunch of friends next Saturday, November 9th, in Washington, D.C..
VITN rules…. and: “Though the mission of the vaper is clearly for the benefit of protecting health through harm minimization, powerful entities have created the decade’s contemporary folk devils.”
I will be in Washington, D.C. next week and will not be publishing my weekly news….. If you are planning on attending what will be a historic rally in Washington on November 9th, I hope to see you and find each other there!
Vaping In The News covers nicotine, smoking, vaping, snus, heat not burn, e-cigarettes, harm reduction, tobacco control, public health, government, regulations, policies & more worldwide.
The largest threat to Public Health is an informed consumer.
Eric Garner’s Mother Speaks Out Against Proposed NYC Menthols Ban ~ Are You Going to the Vaping Rally Nov. 9th in D.C.? ~ Trump campaign urges White House to soften proposed flavored vape ban ~ Outrageous Nicotine Tax Bill Passes House Committee ~ EVALI and risk communication, explained ~ FDA Awards “Modified Risk” Status to General Brand Snus Products from Swedish Match ~ Vapor Technology Association Releases New Television Advertisement ~ World First Med Vape Claim ~ Is Vaping Safer Than Smoking?
I’ve been busy trying to be the best “bot” I can by taking a needed reboot for the past few days. However, news, and all the regulation, restriction, taxes and bans – never stop.
This, for example:
https://t.co/pWYKwGJLEz “Cigarettes preferred by black New Yorkers would be illegal. Cigarettes preferred by non-black New Yorkers would be legal.” #racism#menthol
Outrageous Nicotine Tax Bill Passes House Committee
Pavlov’s dog… DING. I’ve been predicting this for SOME time. Vaping products are a replacement for tobacco. They are NOT a replacement for tobacco taxes. Well, regulate, restrict, TAX, and ban.
“There are principles of good public health practice and there are tactics by which science and the credibility of government bodies are undermined,” he added. “The CDC needs to think hard about why, in their current course of action, they are choosing the latter.”
FDA Awards “Modified Risk” Status to General Brand Snus Products from Swedish Match
Snus, Kevin? You’re linking this? Yes. LESS harmful. Period.
Dr. Rodu explains: “It took the FDA over five years (during which 2.56 million American smokers died prematurely) to approve this truthful statement that I have documented for 25 years.” -Dr. Rodu takes this from here.
I can’t BELIEVE this question still comes up. I can think of a few people who can answer said question properly. Facts and professional integrity are also covered.
