So I’m sitting here in the airport thinking about all these proposed flavor bans and those that have already been shoved down our throats AGAINST THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
First of all let me be clear that I’m against youth vaping and youth marketing. I would hope you know that about me by now.
Do the flavor bans fix the issue with the rash of illness and deaths due to “vaping”? No, not even a little. It completely misses the target as that issue is due to illicit THC carts containing vitamins E acetate. Flavor bans do ZERO to address that problem. However, the problem is being used against the entire nicotine vaping industry by our health organizations and our government. Truly disgusting what is going on. ILLEGAL DRUG DEALERS are being used to decimate and demonize an entire industry that can save more people’s lives than anything Big Pharma has ever done to combat cigarettes.
Does it help the youth vaping issue? No, I actually believe its going to make it worse and add to the “gateway affect”.
I’ve talked to a several teens and vaping is certainly an issue in schools right now. First, they don’t call it vaping, they call it “Juuling” and that’s telling. When I ask why, they say its because of the buzz or the head rush they get. No one ever said anything about the flavor.
The sale of vape products to minors is already illegal. How about we focus on enforcing the laws. Let’s blame the parents, the kids, the shops or people selling or providing to minors. Let’s figure out a way to shut THAT down. RESPONSIBILITY, NOT BLAME!! STRATEGIC STRIKES, NOT CARPET BOMBING!!
Save the children yes, but in a way we also remember and save adults as well… adult nicotine vapers and smokers who are being completely forgotten about and ignored. ADULTS ENJOY FLAVORS TOO!
If the youth are after the head rush, they’re going to seek it out and get it whether its in the form of mango, tobacco, or no flavor at all.
So what does banning flavors do?
1) Trains youth to like tobacco flavor.
2) Prevents adults from finding flavors that appeal to them.
3) Potentially pushes adults who won’t be able to get the flavors they enjoy back to cigarettes.Really bad in every case, and in every case plays right into the hands of Big Tobacco.
I believe our goal, and the goal of those who CLAIM to care about public health, should be the elimination of combustible tobacco cigarettes. How can we do that if the only flavor we have left is that of the very thing we want to eliminate?
It makes zero sense and truly leads me to believe that flavor bans are NOT about saving the children, but more about saving the interests of Big Tobacco and therefore Big Pharma not to mention cigarette tax revenues. The side effect of this? IT HURTS ADULTS! Adults should matter too. Smokers should matter too. Adults who have found vaping and enjoy flavors and adult smokers who have yet to find vaping and a flavor they enjoy.
I’m tired, I’m disgusted, I’m sick to my stomach over what’s going on. It’s so absolutely and obviously criminal and corrupt.
Time to board the next plane.
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