Posted on 06/25/2009 10:14:04 PM PDT by Eric Blair 2084
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) wants to ban a smoking device that several House Republicans have trumpeted for helping them quit smoking.
The battery-operated device, known as an electronic cigarette, looks like a normal cigarette, but contains no tobacco and instead of smoke emits a nicotine vapor when the user inhales. Reps. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) and Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) have all been spotted using the device on Capitol Hill.
But the device, which is sold over the Internet and at select mall kiosks, needs to be tested by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before it is deemed safe for general use, Lautenberg wrote in a letter to the FDA on Monday.
Manufacturers and retailers of these products claim that e-cigarettes are safe, and even that these products can help smokers quit traditional cigarettes, he wrote.
However, there have been no clinical studies to prove these products are effective at helping smokers quit, nor have any studies verified the safety of these products or their long-term health effects.
Stearns shot back at Lautenberg on Monday, saying that there is no evidence that the device is harmful.
Before the FDA takes any immediate action, it should put forward scientific evidence that these products are harmful or unsafe, he said in a statement.
These e-cigarettes are smokeless and do not produce carcinogens. The nicotine in e-cigarettes is controlled in a capsule that can help in smoking cessation by allowing the user to reduce gradually the nicotine level, hopefully to zero.
Stearns has sent electronic cigarettes to House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and President Obama to help them quit smoking. Hes been seen using the device in the Speakers Lobby, where Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) banned smoking two years ago. Her office did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
A longtime opponent of smoking, Lautenberg authored the law that banned smoking on airplanes and a law that banned smoking in federal facilities that serve children.
I only know of one person who has tried e-cigs and failed to quit tobacco. (her husband quit but she didn't).
I smoked a pack a day until I got mine a few weeks ago. I haven't had a tobacco cigarette in the last week. I didn't even intend to quit smoking entirely.
That phermaldahyde filled walking corpse Lautenberg from the Democratic People's Republic of NJ is also to thank for increasing the drinking age to 21 back in the 80's.
He was a two pack a day smoker, than became a zealot. I thought tobacco was a killer. How is he still alive?
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We the People Sheeple of the United States Nanny State, in Order to form a more perfect Union Socialist Utopia, establish Justice Socially engineer a country of non smoking, physically fit, seat belt and helmet wearing teetotalers, ensure domestic Tranquility Smoking bans in bars, limits on unhealthy food and social drinking, provide for the common defense Universal Healthcare, promote the general Welfare health of the population whether they like it or not, in order to save above mentioned Universal Healthcare entitlement program from bankruptcy, and secure the Blessings of Liberty Dependency to ourselves progressive liberals and our Posterity Hitler Youth who we brainwash through public school education, do ordain decree and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Nanny State of Liberals.
The problem is, a voting majority agrees with them.
I am not a fan of Lautenberg, but I have him to thank for getting smoking banned from airplanes.
This is much more sinister. I never thought I would sit around sounding like a lib lamenting the military/industrial complex or whatever.
In this case, the formula is simple....
Big Tobacco + Big Pharma + State Governments addicted to tobacco tax revenue - Smokers who quit and still enjoy themselves = All Hell Breaking Loose divided by unintended consequences, Capitalism, Inventors, Freedom.
The FDA should be snuffed out ... for lack of common sense.
Yeah, that got me to thinkin': all the Drug Warriors whine about marijuana being more "dangerous" than tobacco, maybe one day someone will get a patent for an e-joint? A THC-filled e-joint. That would be awesome!
You will LOVE what’s coming then, brother. Cradle to grave, Americans being told what, where,and when they can do anything. Wake up.........you’d better not have a “secret” passion, because Big Bro O will root it out, and put a stop to it.(unless you are a member of the elite club, then do what ever the hell you want....smoking in the White House....no problemo.)
Hurry up and die you worthless sack of statist garbage.
Last year I wrote to Sen. Lautenberg protesting abortion and beseeching him to not vote toward partial birth abortion. He wrote back to me with the usual psychobabble how it’s a woman’s right to choose, bla bla bla.
Now this idiot is on his high horse about e-cigarettes? Clearly, his priorities are skewed.
MMJ
Words full of significance.
I could easily say:
I'm not a fan of _________ (insert liberal politician), but I'm glad that they got rid of _______(whatever you do that would annoy me and everyone who knows you).
So you're not a believer in the free market. Smoking would have disappeared on planes without a stupid law, due to natural market forces.
Well said, my friend.
“So you’re not a believer in the free market. Smoking would have disappeared on planes without a stupid law, due to natural market forces.”
How long was I to wait?
Try being on a coast to coast flight...breathing in the smoke and not being able to breath?
breath?
breathe?
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