It would be an understatement to say that I like nicotine. I love it. I always have, and I probably always will. My love affair with the drug started at age 12. While most kids gag on their first cigarette, I was the one who asked for more. As I became a man, no cigarette was strong enough, and the first two packs of the day rarely sufficed. For reasons of personal health and finance, I decided to quit at age 23 - which was now more than a decade ago. Despite several years being completely nicotine free, and then several years of weekend pipe and cigar smoking, the thought of a cigarette never left my mind. In 2010, a friend introduced me to a new trend in nicotine: vaping. Not only was I able to enjoy that familiar throat hit, a noticeable nicotine lift, and a delicious dessert flavor, but I never again had the desire to smoke another "analog" cigarette. Since that time, vaping became a hobby that has brought increased joy and health to my life - and to the lives of countless others. Additionally, vaping became a multibillion dollar industry that has enriched the economic lives of many. It was only a matter of time before the government would rear its ugly head in an attempt to stifle both the progress of this booming industry and the health goals of millions of people.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, set forth by "rule making" from the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention And Tobacco Control Act, took effect on August 8, 2016. Vaping products currently on the market may continue to be manufactured and sold for a period of two years. After that time, according to The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association (CASAA) website, all products first marketed or modified after (the arbitrary date of) February 15, 2007, must undergo a "pre-market review." This encompasses nearly all the products currently available. Application fees for that review can top $1 million USD. This means no new e-juices, no new mods, and likely an end to many vape shops and manufacturers throughout the nation. According to a recent article from CNBC, as many as 99% of current electronic cigarette manufacturers and retailers will be forced out-of-business. There's one industry that is set to boom from these new regulations: Big Tobacco. The proven liars at companies like Altria and R. J. Reynolds are benefitting while everyone else is losing. With few exceptions, they will be the only companies that can afford to produce vaping products. All lawful innovations, in what became an incredibly dynamic industry, will only be made by the corporations that have proven themselves to be completely untrustworthy.
I get it: you don't vape. Maybe you find it a ridiculous avocation for geeks. So be it. Regardless of your vaping habits, all people are harmed by impediments on the free market. Before the fascist takeover of the vaping industry, entrepreneurs were creating, innovating, and self-regulating. For example, the new federal regulations forbid the sale of vaping products minors - decisions best left to the discretion of parents and retailers. Prior to multiple states enacting laws to control multiple aspects of electronic cigarette usage and sales, reputable retailers refused to sell their goods to children. Furthermore, adult consumers also had unrestricted access to a safer alternative to tobacco. When vaping became increasingly popular, early studies suggested that a few ingredients found in certain (often Chinese-produced) e-juices were harmful, the free market had a profitable solution: market products made with safer components and reputable facilities. These solutions created jobs and enriched our communities. What's next?
The fight to freely our lives rages on, both from social and economic perspectives. While the jackboots at the FDA and other regulatory agencies aren't likely to stop usurping authority, a little logic from the 1990s might be of benefit: FUCK THEM, DON'T DO WHAT THEY TELL YOU!
I will part with a few suggestions:
