Hello my name is Mark.
I was a severe rollie chain smoker, smoking a 50 pouch approximately every 3 days or at
worst in 1 day. Neither patches, sprays or gum or medication helped me to cease smoking
and are ironically legal and just as expensive as tobacco (thus the government and big
pharmacy can still make profits). I switched to e-cigarettes and e-juice and immediately
found that I was no longer as breathless and became fitter plus this product was free from
all the carcinogenic chemicals in tobacco, nor does it create the problems of second hand
smoke or create the stench of cigarettes. Being in vapour form I believe it is no different to
inhaling very cold air or very humid air with only exception being that you are inhaling
flavoured nicotine which studies have shown on its own is beneficial for alertness and
cognitively improves memory and exam results of university students. I decided not to use
any tobacco flavoured juices to break the linkage between smoking and receiving my
nicotine which worked exceptionally well to the extent that I despite using a vaporizer could
not stand the stench of cigarettes. Plus buy buying good quality pharmaceutical grade
flavoured nicotine (not from China) my need for asthma medication was virtually eliminated
as I was healthier and could breath better.
At first I found I needed to use the vapourizer far less than when I was smoking and one is
able to gradually cut down the nicotine strength if one wishes to help ween off nicotine or
simply stop. My G.P. and other medical practitioners saw the benefits of me using my ecigarette and stated that they saw no problem or issue with me using it. Also, the hand to
mouth argument used by some claiming that is no different to smoking a cigarette is rubbish
as most devices are not smoked the same way as a cigarette and is a pathetic claim. We use
a hand to mouth behaviour to eat, drink and clean our teeth so should they to be band as
they fall into this same categorisation. As gums and sprays, particularly sprays are shown in
advertising being used indoors in cafes situations, etc. to prevent cravings are spraying a
mist of nicotine into the atmosphere not all of which will enter ones mouth. So how is that a
nicotine mist dispenser is acceptable and can be used indoors in and or around schools,
hospitals, government buildings, bus stops and all other non-smoking areas or chewing
smelly gum and the users foul breath is allowed when vaporising is not. The vapour breath
smell when exhaled is hardly noticeable even indoors for a heavy vapour user and the
nicotine has been absorbed into their lungs not creating an issue with cigarette second hand
smoke inhalation.
There is clearly a great deal of misinformation provided to law makers or those who are
opposed to nicotine in any format when even the U.S FDA has approved it’s use. If a person
is unable to give up or does not want to give up nicotine this is clearly the least harmful form
of its use. Plus, the reality of it being easier to cease vaping in my belief and my case as with
many friends I know is proof that using a vaporiser ahead of all methods, including costly
pharmaceutical prescriptions, is the best way to quit smoking.
I believe that if these products were named correctly for what they are which is a nicotine
vaporiser rather than the term “electronic cigarette”, which they clearly are not as the only
thing they have in common is nicotine, and no tobacco, no added chemical, no smoke which
can be smelt many tens of meters away, and no passive smoke effects the stigma and
adverse health effects would no longer associated with all that criticisms that rightly go with
cigarettes.
In conclusion prior to my decision to cease vaping, a process which was not difficult to
undertake, I never felt the need for nor could I stand the smell of cigarettes. Is not
preferable not only for one’s own health and to others to give up cigarettes by substituting
them with vaping. If vaping is to band then so should the gums, mists, patches (which all
deliver the same ingredient nicotine) and pharmaceuticals like Caprel given the ridiculous
laws that Tasmania has already introduced in an attempt to phase out tobacco. This is also
an attack on the poorer members of the community, whom sociological studies have shown
partake at higher rates than the affluent at smoking as they are unable to afford the
activities or holidays that their richer fellow citizens can afford. Would not the government’s
efforts be better used in redirecting cigarette smokers to nicotine vaporisers and cease
selling tobacco products which is already their intent due to its harm minimisation and
continue to allow vaping in Tasmania.
As a frequent visitor to your state, to the extent that for some time I have been
contemplating moving to Tasmania, if these laws were to be introduced banning nicotine
vaporisers and there use I definitely would never visit your state again nor would the
thousands of smoking tourists addicted to cigarette products particularly from China,
Europe, the U.S and many other countries. Thus please do not ban the right to vape in your
lovely state but rather create an industry their creating the flavoured nicotine juice and by
all means ban cigarettes and cigars if you want as foreign visitors will still come but just have
to bring their own or purchase a Tasmanian made vapourisor. It’s a win-win situation where
you create jobs, keep your tourism industry alive and improve the health of your citizens. To
ban vaping would be a very retrograde act given the legalisation of medicinal cannabis in
Australia.
For the right to VAPE,
From Mark