In a televised address on September 11, 2019, President Donald Trump dropped a bombshell on the U.S. vaping industry by announcing his intention to ban e-liquid across the country in all flavors except tobacco. The stated reasons behind the ban were twofold. First, a terrible lung illness relating to vaping had just begun to sweep across the country, and health officials didn’t yet understand that the illness was caused by the use of illegal cannabis products rather than legal nicotine products. Second, it had become obvious by 2019 that underage use of vaping products had taken hold across the country and wasn’t going to resolve itself any time soon. Members of the federal government felt that, without direct action, the number of teen vapers would only continue to grow.
What happened next was a firestorm that no one in the Trump
administration – not even Trump himself – could ever have predicted.
Trump Underestimates the Importance of Vaping Voters
The first sign that President Trump potentially made a grave mistake on September 11 came in the form of widespread reports suggesting that Trump’s allies in the Republican party were unhappy about the proposed e-liquid flavor ban. As it turned out, Trump had failed to consider the number of people he’d be offending – and more importantly, where those people lived – before proposing the ban. In the 2016 Presidential election, Trump won by extremely narrow margins in key battleground states such as Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Georgia. The margins were smaller, in fact, than the populations of people who vape in those states.
Many of those who vape claim that they will vote based on
that issue alone and will vote against anyone who limits their access to vaping
products. If what those people say is true, banning all flavored e-liquids
could easily lead to a loss of support in the battleground states in which
Trump won in 2016 – and that could easily ruin Trump’s bid for reelection in
2020.
Trump largely went silent on the vaping issue after his September 11 announcement. News reports suggested that Trump hadn’t been aware before the announcement of the impact that a total e-liquid flavor ban would have on his support among voters or on small businesses across America. The loss of the country’s vape shops would also mean the loss of tens of thousands of jobs – not exactly the kind of event that Makes America Great Again.
Trump Administration Proposes a Compromise on the Vaping Issue
By the end of 2019, news reports suggested that the
possibility of an all-out ban on all flavored e-liquids was no longer on the
table. By that time, President Trump had met with representatives from the
vaping and tobacco industries along with various public health advocates. The
meetings gave Trump a better understanding of the impact that a flavor ban
would have on the economy and on his support among adult vapers. In addition,
it was very clear by then that the vaping-related lung illness had nothing to
do with commercial nicotine e-liquid products.
In the end, the Trump administration did two things in an
attempt to curb teen vaping.
The federal government raised the minimum age nationwide
for buying tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21. That was done with the
goal of preventing 18-year-old students from buying things like JUUL pods and giving
them to younger students.
The FDA removed all pre-filled vape pods and
cartridges in flavors other than tobacco and menthol from the market. Bottled
e-liquid for refillable vaping devices remained legal in all flavors. Teen
vapers overwhelmingly prefer the JUUL e-cigarette brand – which uses pre-filled
pods – and in surveys, underage vapers have said that sweet flavors are a major
part of what attracts them to vaping. In removing those products from the
market, the government hopes that vaping will become less attractive to teens.
The government conducts a yearly survey of students to gauge the effectiveness of its tobacco control policies. The results of that survey are released around the end of the year. As of late 2019, more than 5 million teens – about 27.5 percent of high school students and 10.5 percent of middle school students – reported vaping regularly. We will find out in late 2020 whether the government’s new policies have done anything to reduce teen nicotine use.
How Will Vaping Influence the 2020 Presidential Election?
In a private Oval Office meeting in early 2020, President Trump reportedly expressed regret over his involvement in federal vaping policy. Supposedly, he said that he “never should have done that [expletive] vaping thing.”
The reason for Trump’s unhappiness, however, has nothing to
do with the infringement on vapers’ rights or the impact that the government’s
policies may have on small business. The problem is that Trump unwittingly made
himself the face of those policies when he could have easily left the decisions
to Congress and the FDA and let others handle the political fallout.
The government’s new vaping policies are a compromise, and a
compromise means that none of the stakeholders are completely happy. On one
side, Trump is dealing with angry adult vapers who are upset over the lack of
respect for their rights and angry about the fact that the government opted to
punish everyone instead of going after the individual companies that obviously
stepped over the line and marketed their products inappropriately.
On the other side, Trump is dealing with angry tobacco control activists who believe that the government’s new policies haven’t gone far enough – and, in terms of combating teen vaping, they are probably correct. Teens might say that the flavors the flavors of the products have enticed them to vape, but that isn’t really true. Youth-oriented marketing enticed those teens to vape, and the extremely high nicotine strengths of products like JUUL kept them coming back. Banning flavored pods isn’t going to stop teens from vaping when they’re already addicted to nicotine.
Tobacco control has always been a contentious topic, and the
teen vaping issue is not going away. If President Trump loses his bid for
reelection in 2020, it’s entirely possible that it’ll be because he “did that
vaping thing.”
There are plenty of reasons why people are switching from
traditional cigarettes to electronic smoking devices. There’s no ash, no tar,
and based on scientific research, they’re less harmful to your health, too. The
e-devices and the flavorful juices taste and smell wonderful, and smokers get
to choose their preferred level of nicotine. That’s something that’s hard to do
with a cigarette.
Did you know the American Cancer Society, a worldwide renowned expert on the negative health consequences of smoking, has deemed e-cigarettes less harmful than their original combustible counterparts? Today’s top health organizations are exploring how these popular alternatives affect people’s health, as well as how vaporization works in these devices and the science behind what’s going on inside your e-cigarette.
If you’re like any new hobbyist, or you simply want to learn more
about this booming trend, you probably have many questions. To help lead you
through all the hype, we’ve developed a helpful infographic that delves deep
into the science behind vaping. You’ll learn about vaporization, ingredients,
and so much more.
What Is Vaporization?
If you’ve been in the vape scene for any time at all, you’ve heard
the buzz about vaporization. What is it, and what does it have to do with your
overall electronic smoking experience? Learn how it’s your vape pen’s job to
change liquid into steam rapidly.
What Are the Different Components of an
E-Device?
Your inquiring mind wants to know more than just the science
behind vaporization. If you enjoy tinkering, then you’ll enjoy figuring out how
to take your device apart. Our guide goes over the basic parts that make up
your pen and what each piece does in the process. Maybe one day, you’ll be
building and replacing your own coils.
The Atomizer
The atomizer is where the magic really happens. Learn how the wick
and the e-liquid work together to deliver delicious flavor and the voluminous clouds
most vapers are after. Just like the name implies, this handy piece of
equipment turns your favorite vape juice into a fine mist. You’ll learn what
happens next when you browse our enlightening guide.
What’s in Vape Juice?
Our infographic will shine a light on the various ingredients in
your favorite vape juice and the role each plays in delivering the best vaping
experience. This illuminating visual breaks down the difference between
vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol and why their concentration matters to
the average vaper.
Temperature Troubles
Let’s not stop there. There is a ton more science to unearth, such as temperature. What temperature works the best with which ingredients? Learn how to avoid burning wicks, and uncover where vape juice gets converted to liquid.
Determine Ratios and Ohms
For those hardcore hobbyists that really want to dig into the
science of vaping, learn about ohms and how resistance makes a difference inside
your vape pen. You’ll find out which blends lead to which results, and so much
more.
Take a look at our infographic now. You want information, and we’ve got it.
There is an opinion that electronic cigarettes
are less harmful than regular (tobacco) ones. In fact, this question has not
been thoroughly studied. Of course, facts confirming that people are switching
to e-cigarettes, with time, no longer feel short of breath, get rid of the pain
in a chest and strong cough. There are many other benefits. Scientists do not
argue that the electronic cigarette is a panacea for smokers because hovering
is quite a young thing and so far there are no serious tests to confirm or
refute this hypothesis. The question of the harm or benefit of vape is far from
the only one of those that hover around these electronic devices. Often the
financial issue is important, and in this article, we will figure out what is
cheaper – electronic cigarettes or regular ones.
To begin with, smoking any cigarette, including vape pen, is harmful. Before
you buy electronic cigarettes, think again about the potential harm that you
cause to health, as well as the possible addiction to nicotine. Remember that
although electronic cigarettes are less dangerous for the body than tobacco
products, their detrimental effects on the body have not been studied for a
long time. So far it is only known that steam can cause diseases (including
cancer) of the respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous and other systems.
Therefore, if you want to protect yourself from harm completely – do not smoke or steam at all. At the same
time, it can be said that an electronic cigarette is a reasonable alternative
to regular cigarettes. If by virtue of habit or personal factors you cannot
give up nicotine, it is better that it enters your body without toxic
impurities, tar, carcinogens, poisons, which are more than enough in tobacco
smoke. Steam is safer.
Is it cheaper to soar or smoke?
More and more people around the world give their preference to modern cigarettes, completely refusing tobacco. This is connected not so much with concern for their own health, but with the desire to reduce their costs. It is secretly assumed that an electronic cigarette is a very expensive pleasure, but this is more a legend than a reality. Indeed, some ten years ago, when e-cigarettes rushed into the markets, it was not easy and expensive to buy them. They cost a lot of money, and the service noticeably hit the bill. Today the situation is completely different, which can be fairly justified by high competition, as well as rapid development in the field of technology and appearance of vape shops (Vapindaily, for example). Often, a smoker who has to choose whether to switch to “nanotechnological” smoking compares the cost of his cigarettes with the cost of an electronic cigarette and makes a choice in the direction of tobacco. To a newcomer in this business, it may seem that the price of a gadget is ten times higher than the price of one pack of cigarettes, and therefore there is no point in changing an ordinary tobacco cigarette to an uncharted device. But here it is worth remembering that an electronic cigarette is bought once and with proper maintenance it can be used for a long time. For a beginner, it is often important that an electronic cigarette be similar in appearance and shape to a regular one. The myths that e-cigs are much more expensive than regular cigarettes are most likely created to maintain the budget of tobacco corporations. Probably, it is clear for what reasons – they just do not want to lose their income. It turns out that the benefits and advantages of an electronic cigarette over obsolete tobacco products prevail. Safe for life and health of the components that make up the liquid, getting rid of unpleasant odors, and as a bonus, a very pleasant saving of your own wallet. In conclusion, it is worth noting that smoking or hovering is a matter for everyone individually. It is worth remembering that tobacco products are definitely harmful and weightily hit the budget. As for electronic soaring, little is known about the harm here, but this does not exclude the fact that it does exist. An average smoker who needs one pack of cigarettes a day spends about $ 650 a year to buy cigarettes. A considerable amount, isn’t it? And if you take into account what cigarettes do to you, it may seem absurd. Now imagine what you could spend all the money saved! And, finally, you have a question: “How much will it cost to use an electronic cigarette?” Initially, when switching from cigarettes to vaping, the cost of the starter kit is taken into account, which ranges from $ 15 to $ 40, the remaining costs are buying vape juice and replaceable components (evaporators). According to our calculations, it will cost about $ 50 a month, depending on your device and the amount of liquid that you evaporate. More advanced devices cost more money – better specifications require higher production costs. But, having made a purchase of a device, all your future costs are limited to the purchase of liquids and consumables, the service life of which often exceeds one month. By simple calculations, you can answer the main question yourself. But for clarity, we will demonstrate the numbers. Keeping your e-cigarette and maintaining a supply of liquid will cost you $ 100- $ 250 per year. Agree, it is clearly more profitable than spending $ 650 on cigarettes. Ideally, vaping should help you to throw both cigarettes and steam, which will reduce your expenses on a bad habit to zero! Well, do not forget that, according to the research department of the Department of Health of the United Kingdom, vaping is 95% safer than traditional cigarettes. An electronic cigarette, if we are talking about a good model, is financially more profitable than daily buying cigarette packs. In conclusion, we only note that it is recommended to buy e-cigarettes and consumables from trusted suppliers, which will protect you from counterfeits, unsafe and low-quality products. Remember that for each different consumer models of devices and liquids may be ideal – be prepared for a conscious independent choice.
About the author: Christina Matthews, the
journalist who studies the latest news in the health industry. Now she studies
the effects of smoking and vaping on health and reasons of such its popularity.
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