November 23rd 2015. CASAA members across the country received their latest national call to action this morning by way of an email, and this one looks promising. CASAA ( The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association ) are continuously fighting for our rights as vapers and it is our job to support their initiatives as they push them forward if we wish to continue vaping.
First Things First
If you didn’t already see this message it tells me one of two things, either you haven’t checked your messages today or you are not a member of CASAA. Both of these things are easily remedied, either check your messages more often or sign up here. It costs nothing but allows you to stay up to date with everything that is related to the future of the industry at a state and national level. If you believe that as a consumer, the business side isn’t your problem, you will be scratching your head in a year when all the vaping devices and liquids you rely on disappear. Getting everyone involved is the only way we will be able to keep this industry alive long enough to do what it was designed for.
The Last Few Weeks
We know that vaping products contain absolutely no tobacco but the FDA is bound and determined to classify them as such, simply to allow them to regulate our industry. It is nothing to do with a conspiracy with major corporations but a government entity wishing to pull a new market under its per-view. Whether or not we agree with their decision, they are pushing forward because science and logic are not very high on their list of priorities when looking at life saving devices. Everyone has spent weeks talking about HR 2058, a simple bill introduced by Representative Tom Cole (R, OK) that would prevent the FDA from decimating the vaping industry by enacting a de facto ban on everything that wasn’t on the market before 2007. His bill, which is 4 simple lines of text that would be added to existing legislation, in reality does nothing but change the grandfather date to the date the FDA regulations are enacted. That would mean that every device that is currently on the market, every e-liquid and everything else that is vape related would be safe from the crushing blow that they are about to drop on us. Over the last couple of weeks we have managed to get other legislators on our side in this fight and have them sign up as co-sponsors of the bill, something that will be ongoing up until the very second the bill is voted on.
The Latest Call To Action
While Tom Cole has done a wonderful job keeping this discussion alive, we may have a second bite at the cherry as far as changing the grandfather date of the FDA deeming regulations, by simply supporting a provision in this years budget bill. Section 747 of the budget bill simply uses language similar to HR 2058 within the budget to move the grandfather date to the day the FDA’s deeming regulations are passed. They both achieve the same goal but in two separate places. The Call To Action reads as follows:
We need your help in urging Congress to take action and stop the FDA from banning nearly every vapor product currently on the market!
Please tell Congress to SUPPORT a proposal in this year’s budget bill that would protect consumer access to vapor products by changing the ‘grandfather’ date in the Tobacco Control Act.
Here’s the situation:
You know that if the grandfather date of February 2007 currently contained in the Tobacco Control Act applies to e-cigarettes, more than 99% of the vapor products currently on the market will be banned after a grace period. Congress needs to change the grandfather date!
Right now, Congressional leaders in Washington, D.C. are busy working out the final details of this year’s budget.
Currently, there is a provision in the House’s version of the budget bill that is being supported by some representatives that would essentially include the proposed language of HR 2058 (the Cole Bill). This simple change could help preserve the existing vapor market and protect consumer access to these potentially life saving products.
If Congress does not act, the sheer cost and complexity of the FDA approval process will lead to a de facto ban on over 99% of the vapor products on the market today.
Even if you’ve already taken before, your voice is needed.
Please take action NOW by contacting your
Representative and Senators!
By having this added to the budget, the law makers will remove the teeth of the FDA as they prepare to intentionally decimate our Electronic Nicotine Delivery System market, which in all honesty is not something I am trying to preserve for the current vaping market but for those who are still addicted to those little white cancer sticks.
Click on the links above, make your voices heard, I implore you. If you love to vape and want to have the ability to choose what ever flavors you like, getting this done is probably the most important thing you will do this week.
As always, enjoy your vaporizers and vape safe!
