Electronic Cigarettes versus Big Tobacco – You Don’t Want to Miss This!

As electronic cigarettes storm the U.S. Market and sales continue to soar, Big Tobacco throws it’s might behind legislation that could not just send the e-cigarette packing, but also put small tobacco cigarette producing firms out of business for good.

Electronic Cigarettes, or e-cigarettes have stormed the U.S. market in the past few months and have produced vast amounts of excitement and confusion. Smokers and loved ones of smokers are excited about the prospect of a potentially safer, healthier and even cheaper alternative to tobacco cigarettes while many are also confused as to their legality and status with regards to U.S. customs and the FDA.

Electronic cigarettes have actually been around for about 5 years, having been invented by the Runyan corp. in China in 2004. The were designed to replace tobacco cigarettes and cigars because, despite the spreading global smoking bans, many smokers were just not able to quit smoking altogether. There are other nicotine replacement products on the market, such as gum and patches, but they don’t replicate the smoking experience which has been found to be a part of the addictive ritual of smoking. The electronic cigarette is a revolutionary device that aims to both deliver nicotine to the user and to simulate the act of smoking a tobacco cigarette.

The basic idea is simple. Electronic cigarettes look like a cigarettes, deliver nicotine to the user like a cigarette, and even function, ie- “puff”, like a cigarette. The genius is in the details however. E-cigarettes do NOT have any of the tobacco or other harmful chemical additives of traditional cigarettes, there is no smoke or flame, and therefore no second hand smoke. The just contain battery charged cartridges and put out a water propylene glycol based vapor that is both harmless and odorless. Because these are “smokeless” cigarettes, users are not subject to the widespread smoking bans and are able to smoke e-cigarettes in places like restaurants, bars, airports, workplaces, etc. Add to this the huge cost savings over tobacco cigarettes and it’s clear we have a reall winner here.

So what about those legality issues? Electronic cigarettes fall into a legal grey area as they have not been officially approved or banned by the FDA but they are still being commonly sold in the U.S. There is widespread debate as to whether or not the FDA has jurisdiction over e-cigarettes and there is a bill currently in Congress that promises to further complicate the issue. The Family Smoking Prevention And Tobacco Control Act, passed by the House on 04/02/09, and now in the Senate would permit the FDA “to review and consider the evidence for additional indications for nicotine replacement products.”it wouldn’t take much to arrive at an interpretation of this that puts e-cigarettes under the FDA’s control.

It will be interesting to watch how this plays out, particularly in light of the special interests involved in the electronic cigarettes’ success or failure. Another unique thing about ecigarettes is that, unlike big tobacco, which is ruled by a few large corporations, some smaller companies have been able to successfully produce and market these products. It should not come as a shock to hear that Phillip Morris firmly supports the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which would essentially make manufacturing tobacco products more costly, thus getting rid of smaller competitors, and possibly also eliminating the e-cigarette competition as well.

One thing is a certainty, those who have already made the e-cigarette discovery and switched from tobacco cigarettes are watching closely as this is a product that has truly changed the lives of many smokers who now have no desire to return to tobacco cigarettes or to hand over their precious cash to big tobacco. If history is any indication, generally the best products with the most loyal customers are going to win out in the end anyway. Electronic Cigarettes are winning over thousands of smokers on a daily basis because news of a good thing travels fast.

We review the best e-cigarette producers and outlines the various starter kits and popular set ups. Our blog contains additional articles, reviews and now has a FREE REPORT on E-Cigarettes for all visitors. Visit us today! We also have a great Squidoo Lens.

More Stop Smoking Advice Info:

1. What the Future Holds for Electronic Cigarettes – Embargos, Bans, Controversy – Oh My!
2. Your Electronic Cigarette Questions and Misconceptions Cleared Up Once and For All
3. Electronic Cigarettes, an Introduction
4. 10 Reasons on why should you use Electronic Cigarette instead of traditional cigarettes
5. Electronic Cigarettes: FAQ
6. Why Tobacco Smokers Should Try Electronic Cigarettes Instead