HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-03-2015 PH2 Waag 2Subject: FW: Treating E -Cigs as if they were a Killer Tobacco Product
COUNCIL MEETING: -�9-1 S MAR 0 2 2015
-- - - - - -- Original message -- - - - - -- ITEM NO.:__ _ YH Y.
From: Tim Waag
Date:03 /02/2015 8:19 AM (GMT- 08:00)
To: "Marx, Jan" , "Rivoire, Dan" , Dan Carpenter , "Ashbaugh, John" , "Christianson, Carlyn"
Cc: Cynthia Lambert
Subject: Treating E -Cigs as if they were a Killer Tobacco Product
Dear SLO City Council,
I assume from the silence that you are all leaning towards banning a -cigs. Too bad.
I have attempted to persuade you that E -cigs prevent tobacco cigarette deaths. Opponents are simply looking at
the wrong studies that are being trumpeted by those having something to gain by "snuffing out" e -cigs forever
(like the tobacco companies, that support banning e -cigs in public). Also, I suspect that government coffers
have much more to gain in the way of tax dollars for the continuing sales of tobacco products than they do from
e -cigs, which are taxed at much lower rates and do not require you to buy a tobacco license.
Here's an anecdotal story from the Tribune article:
Those opposed (to the e -cig ban in public) said that e- cigarettes help smokers quit and that there's conflicting
scientific data on their long -term effects. Santa Maria resident Brenda Templin emailed council members about
her experience with e- cigarettes. Templin wrote that she became addicted to cigarettes in her early teens but quit
nearly three months ago. Her significant other introduced her to e- cigarettes.
" Vaping is not only a healthy replacement for smoking, it is also in no way a danger to anyone who intends to
use it for pleasure or to stay what I like to call `cigarette sober,' " Templin wrote. "Instead of pushing vaping
underground, along with the knowledge that keeps retailers and their clientele safe," she added, "I ask you to
consider keeping it visible and accessible so that we can continue relating to one another and sharing stories of
success over a happy cloud or two."
In case you missed it, here's the entire Trib article: "SLO eyes e -cig ban in Public Places ".
htlp://www.sanluisobis o.com/2015/02/28/3 513195_san- luis - obispo- eyes -e -ci garettes.html ?rh =1
Unfortunately, this Wall Street Journal article can't be read without an account and password, so here is one
passage from that article:
httn:// www. wsi .com/articles /michael- b- sieizel- the - misbegotten- crusade - against- e- eigarettes- 1 42482 1 708
Are electronic cigarettes safe? Of course not. But e- cigarettes don't need to be absolutely safe. By definition,
harm reduction involves an alternative product that is much safer. As electronic cigarettes contain no tobacco
and do not involve combustion, they do not expose users to most of the more than 60 carcinogens in tobacco
smoke, and they appear to be safer by orders of magnitude.
Here's my article on the subject:
htlp://timwaajzblo,,z.bloaspot.com/2015/01/slo-nanny-stat -rolls-on-now-wants-to.html
Thanks for reading this, if you still are.
Respectfully,
- -Tim Waag
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Tim Waag
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