E-cigarette and vapor store owners are facing significant challenges in fighting against the government’s recently passed Bill 45, regulating the use of smoking in Ontario.
Vapors Advocates of Ontario spoke out against the new Electronic Cigarettes Act on Saturday at a protest at Queen’s Park. The act aims to control smoking in Ontario, but vape enthusiasts and sellers argue that vaping and smoking e-cigarettes isn’t the same as smoking.
Maria Papaioannoy of downtown’s Ecig Flavourium and organizer of this weekend’s protest says the impact the tobacco-alternative has had on smokers has been positive, and banning it would be cruel to both users and employees in the e-cigarette industry.
“You’re looking at thousands of jobs across Ontario being eliminated because we no longer need customer service,” she says, pointing to the new law that users cannot test vaporizer products in stores. “I think the government is doing a disservice. It’s more fear of the unknown.”
Papaioannoy says the act, which is going into effect as of January 1, 2016, will prevent those who have sought cigarette alternatives from exploring less damaging options.
“I think they’re doing a disservice to the thousands of people who have effectively given up combustible cigarettes and are using electronic cigarettes to move further and further away from smoking.”
Vapors and e-cigarettes mimic the smoking experience, and although they have been regarded as the healthier option against smoking tobacco, they do function on a liquid that does contain nicotine.
Further cause for concern are the shocking findings uncovered in an article in the Harvard Gazette this week.
A study done by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health shows that chemical flavourings in e-cigarettes contribute to lung disease. Diacetyl, the chemical found in over 75% of electronic cigarettes according to their findings, has been known to cause severe respiratory diseases.
While e-cigarettes and vapors have been known as the safer alternative, the future of e-smoking seems foggy.
website@nowtoronto.com | @dianawsmith
