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"This is a classic case of government imposing a 'solution' and then looking for a problem," said CASAA President Julie Woessner, J.D. "The regulations do nothing to address real concerns, and instead are a slow-motion ban of the high quality e-cigarettes that have helped so many smokers quit. The rules would mostly require busy-work filings that impose huge costs with little apparent benefit."
Dozens of states, counties and cities issued the bonds to receive billions of dollars upfront from the 1998 settlement. But now they are seeing smaller payments than expected from the companies as tobacco sales decline in America. There is also a renewed legal battle between the states and the tobacco companies, with the companies holding back nearly $8 billion in settlement payments, pending resolution.
So far, California, Ohio and Virginia, as well as Nassau County in New York, have resorted to tapping special tobacco-bond reserves to pay their bondholders, something analysts consider a technical default because it effectively means the bondholders are being paid with their own money.
I agree that the tobacco companies are behind this as they are losing a lot of money
As a smoker (roughly 1-2 pack of red marlboros a day) hoping to quit some day, I do not see e-cigarettes as of much better alternative.
Whether you smoke tobacco or cigarettes, the end result is the same - you are addicted to something and someone, whether smoking industry or e-cigarette industry, is financially benefiting from your addictions. Smoking industry might try to make these seem more dangerous for financial gains, just the same way the e-cigarette companies might cover up data about the dangers of the e-cigarettes. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. When corporate interests are at play, both sides would benefit from either positive or negative news accordingly. and have an agenda they want to push.
Even though e-cigarettes might be healthier alternative, the healthiest alternative is quitting altogether. As these have not been there for a long time, I personally do see a need for taking a good look in the possible long-term effects. There is a huge difference how different combinations of substances can affect human body. For example, how the sugar you add to your coffee affects your body differently than the sugar you get from apple due the combinations. When you eat apple, the fiber content of the apple affects the absorption of sugar, slowing it down, so the sugar spike does not happen (is low), while from the pure sugar it absorbs fast as there is nothing to slower the absorption of it and creates a large sugar spike. That is something that does not have much immediate health risks, but doing it long-term day-after-day year-after-year can cause diabetes, overweight and other serious health risks. The way nicotine absorbs, the combination of different substances all create certain effects on human body. The thing with e-cigarettes is the fact that we do not know possible long-term effects, we do not know how these particular combinations affect human body long term.
The current research just lags behind their popularity. What is known is that it does contain several potentially very harmful substances and that is enough of a reason to regulate the industry better. At the same time, it does have certain effects on human body, which are Better safe than sorry, than advertising something that could cause serious health risks, who knows, maybe even worse than tobacco, in long-term as safe alternative.
Personally, I think they should regulate e-cigarettes. Regulate the hell out of them. Big tobacco makes e-cigarettes.
originally posted by: flyingfish
a reply to: Deemo Diablo
Personally, I think they should regulate e-cigarettes. Regulate the hell out of them. Big tobacco makes e-cigarettes.
I know what your saying, but the current proposed regulations are designed to afford Big tobacco a monopoly and make it financially impossible for smaller vendors to compete. In affect they will control and corner the market.
originally posted by: Hoosierdaddy71
I have a couple questions for you guys.
First, why did you start smoking in the first place? I'm 42 and I knew when I was a little kid that smokes were very bad for me. I never could stand the smell so i never wanted to try them.
And second, do you think the e-cig will get young people addicted mostly because there is little or no negative health risks involved?
I think more kids will try these than the smelly and unhealthy tobacco smokes.
Opinions?
originally posted by: earthblaze
Vaping uses the same principle that produces haze and fog at a disco. Without it all the lights and lazers would be light dots on the floor. There has never been any mention of this being dangerous to health. I agree that the tobacco companies are behind this as they are losing a lot of money.
originally posted by: Hoosierdaddy71
And second, do you think the e-cig will get young people addicted mostly because there is little or no negative health risks involved?
I think more kids will try these than the smelly and unhealthy tobacco smokes.
Opinions?