Hockey Scores- Calgary Alberta:
E-Cig All stars 4- Health Canada 0
In one of the most intriguing and unexpected results of the day the E-Cigarette All-Stars crushed Health Canada in a game broadcast on:
The Rob Breakenridge Show on CHQR AM radio in Calgary.
His guest was Jesse Kline, author of the article E-smoke'em if you got them a boldly written history and expose of Health Canada's stance on the E-cigarette. CHQR aired the talk show subject last night with three callers all expressing their gratitude for quitting combustible and carcinogen laden cigarettes for the e-cigarette, a product that produces a nicotine vapor that has drastically changed the lives of countless former cigarette users- and from their standpoint for the better. The text of the article is linked below. Mr. Breakenridge did a thorough job of questioning and exploring the actions (or more appropriately deemed the inaction of Health Canada in addressing an issue they put on the table in 2009).
In the segment aired 1/2/2012 entitles, Why Won't Health Canada Allow E-Cigarettes? Mr Breckenridge posed straight and direct questions to Mr. Klein about the
real issues of why this method of nicotine use was being undermined in a country which is thought to be a leader among prevention of disease and harm reduction. In his interview he talked openly with Mr. Klein about the question of why Health Canada would not allow adults to use a product that is tobacco, but in a means that is safer (his words) than smoking. He opened up with the significant differences between the e-cigarette and the smoked tobacco.
Link to podcast http://www.qr77.com/Station/Episodes.aspx?PID=1022
Major points:
- Health Canada is taking no action except to prevent the import of nicotine into the country.
- It has gone after, through the RCMP's (short form Mounties), producers in Canada and shut them down.
- The e-cigarette device is not illegal and 0 nicotine juices are legal.
- He points out that there is a high revenue base from taxation of cigarettes that may be diluted by this product.
- Demonizing of cigarettes is evident in Canada yet the harm reduction potential of the e-cigarette have been neglected. The patches and gums just do not have the same feel for the smoker and with the advent of a product that seems to mimic smoking nothing except active government resistance is evident.
- On one hand the government is taking measures to stop smoking but is hooked on the tobacco money and does not want to go all the way.
- Klein reports that the electronic cigarette is used as a replacement method as opposed to the patch that is looked upon as a short term quit.
- His conclusion is that the incentive for the government of Canada is not for this to become a real option from a revenue standpoint.
Several callers (not on the podcast) expressed views that this has been helpful and life changing. Greg commented on the effects on health and re-emphasized the illusion that this is somehow not a change in the smoker's world. Another caller related that he had slowly transitioned over several months to e-cigarettes with health benefits, but that he related it to a replacement for the cigarette that he felt was beneficial. The last caller Kristin related that there was evidence of safety, that there was a group CASAA (cassa.org) that was actively involved in attempting to get truthful information about the product,
Overall this was a phenomenal interview with a glimpse into the politics of money verses the general good of the Canadian. It focused on the ability of adults to purchase carcinogen filled tobacco and yet not obtain a harm reduction product.
Read the article, listen to the podcast, and sit back- smoker, e-cigarette user or nonsmoker and judge for yourself the real reason tobacco is smokeable but nicotine not vapable.
Then try to think of a good reason for these not to be available.
Good job Mr. Breakenridge, smashing article Mr. Klein and excellent viewpoints by the callers.
My thoughts- in the next Tobacco Harm Reduction Blog.
