FDA brings out the big 'NAMES' in its court case

Not surprisingly, the FDA has brought some of its bully 'friends' to file amici briefs in its continuing court case which seems poised to determine the fate of the electronic cigarette in this country.

The American Academy of Pediatrics

The ACS (American Cancer Society)

The Cancer Action Network

The AHA (American Heart Association)

The American Legacy Foundation

The ALA (American Lung Association)

The AMA (American Medical Association)

The CTFK (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids)

The Public Citizen

I have to ask: Why now? Why did these large, impressive, very public groups take it into their collective heads to NOW file in support of the FDA - a year after this case was first brought to light?

I think someone has switched tactics. Earlier in the year, there were bills in a few states introduced, quietly, which would have banned the sale of electronic cigarettes at the state level. These bills were worded almost identically in each of the different states - essentially granting the power to regulate them as drug-delivery devices to the FDA, circumnavigating this limbo the products find themselves in right now with the Federal court case.

Well, we vapers are a vocal bunch, and are tired of having our right to make informed decisions taken away from us. To date, none of these bills have passed into law.

I was fortunate enough to be part of the grass-roots movement supporting PV's. I went to IL on the day that state's bill was being discussed in the Health and Human Services committee, and I watched these committee members faces as they had the wool literally removed from their eyes regarding these products.

I watched a paid lobbyist for the ALA sit in that hearing chamber, I saw her body language change from confident to surprised to shaken to desperation to defeat, and I heard her LIE through her teeth when she spoke of the dangers of these products.

I watched vapers from MO, IL, and WI stand in front of that committee, and speak with eloquence and passion about PV's. Confident, they spoke the truth, and the truth rang genuine in their words.

By the time we left that conference room, there was no doubt in my mind that the fate of that bill was sealed - and I was right. It was not brought up for a vote. It died in that committee.

Shortly after that victory in IL, the above-mentioned three letter ass-ociations filed their want to appear as friends of the FDA. They are, for the time being, content to put all their mighty weight and pull behind the Federal court case, and not try to pick off the states one by one.

Each and every organization in the list up above has put their names and reputations on the line. They have shown themselves to be not, as their mission statements so boldly proclaim, for the betterment of public health, but for something else, something dark and unable to face the light of day.

These groups are anti-smoker, not anti-smoking. It is the action of smoking that they are campaigning against. Why else would they look at a product like the PV, and declare "we don't know what's in them," in one breath, and "The FDA found carcinogens and antifreeze in them," in the very next breath???

Gee, don't the two statements contradict each other?????

Facts are:

the ONLY way these charities recommend a person quit smoking is a product manufactured by the Pharmaceutical Giants, who just happen to pour a TON of donations into these organizations each year. (Can I say it without sounding facetious? Don't bite the hand that feeds you?)

The FDA study performed last year proved that PV's are multiple magnitudes safer than the product they were designed to replace: cigarettes.

They refuse to measure these products against cigarettes. Hell, they even refuse to measure these products against traditional pharmaceutical NRT products. They are hell-bent to establish a standard that these are measured against: abstinence of all things tobacco or emulating tobacco.

The only way they will allow people in this country to consume nicotine is if the experience is NOT enjoyable. How DARE we enjoy ourselves!

It's time to stop the madness. The ride needs to end, and the carnival needs to be packed up and move on to another show. the bearded lady needs to be shaved, the midgets need to grow up, and the barkers need to award the big prize.

I'm taking my money and putting it in a better place - and right now, anyplace is better than donating to these organizations who would rather I return to smoking than enjoy my PV, smoke-free for over a year!!!