By Mark Binker

Raleigh, N.C. A bill that would have created a new cigarette trafficking crime was stubbed out before it could be introduced Wednesday.

The bill filing deadline has long passed for most measures in the state House. But the House Rules Committee can still file bills if the need arises. Typically, such an introduction is a ministerial matter for the committee, meriting little discussion once the measure has been vetted by the chairman.

So it was something of a surprise when Rep. Leo Daughtry, R Johnston, piped up against the proposed introduction of the cigarette tracking bill.

“No, there’s not a motion, I’m opposed to the bill,” Daughtry declared. “A number of people go through Johnston County going to New York or Florida or wherever they’re going, and I want them to buy 25 (cartons), and I don’t want them to be considered a criminal either.”

Daughtry’s district is home to JR’s, an outlet store off of Interstate 95 that sells, among other things, cigarettes. Daughtry cited JR’s and other outlets as a reason to oppose the measure.

Under the bill, there would be a presumption that someone is trafficking cigarettes for sale elsewhere if they had at least 25 cartons, which amounts to 5,000 cigarettes. According to one committee member, that number was chosen because 24 cartons come in a case from cigarette manufacturers.

“Even I smoke, and I don’t need 25 cartons,” said Rep. Linda Johnson, R Cabarrus.

Cigarettes sold in North Carolina don’t bear tax stamps. Combined with the relatively low tobacco tax here, that fact makes them attractive for black market sales in other jurisdictions, where taxes are higher. This black market is both bad from a public relations standpoint and bad for business, so bills cracking down on trafficking tend to have support from cigarette companies as well as law enforcement.

The language in Johnson’s bill mirrors the law in Virginia.

But Daughtry’s vociferous objection seemed to sway the committee, and Johnson withdrew the bill rather than risking a vote.

Even if the committee decides to introduce the bill at a later time, its chances may not improve. The measure would have gone to the House Judiciary Committee, where Daughtry is the chairman.

Studies conclude no health risks with electronic cigarettes – smoke free electronic cigarettes

How to find inexpensive cigarettes: 5 steps (with pictures)

In today s world, almost everyone is having some kind of conversation about electronic cigarettes. Many people are trying to kick tobacco by either switching to e cigarettes gradually or using them all the time.

Most of us have a family member, co worker, friend or employee trying them. Throughout the day, most of us will see at least two or three people utilizing e cigarettes.

As e cigs gain popularity, one of the big questions coming from smokers and non smokers alike is this Do e cigarettes pose a different kind of health risk?

Now, we can relax. Recent studies prove that vaping the e liquids made for e cigarettes is not posing any real health risks to users. These same studies show that bystanders aren t exposed to any health risks either.

I am a home health nurse, and I use an electronic cigarette, says a woman we ll call Katherine. She works in New Jersey. My job requires me to give care eight hours a day, three days a week, to an elderly patient. I go to her kitchen to vape my device.

Katherine got some criticism from one of her patient s family members a daughter. The daughter wanted to know whether the vapor was putting out chemicals, or posing health issues for her mother.

Katherine presented new information to the daughter, so she could draw her own conclusions. She asked the daughter to review new findings about e cigarettes. What did scientific proof say?

After learning more facts, my patient s daughter is now encouraging me to continue using e cigarettes, says Katherine. Believe me, she went over the reports in detail. I was glad, because it s dissolved any worry or concern, and I can vape my e cigarette without feeling guilty.

It s very good news that studies now prove that e cigarette vapor doesn t harm the health of users or anyone around them. Vapor created by the e cigarette is safe, by all accounts.

A study conducted by Drexel University in Pennsylvania was posted on CASAA s website. CASAA has a mission to help smokers find good alternatives, so the organization stepped forward to actually fund the study conducted at the university. CASAA is an acronym for The Consumer Advocates for Smoke Free Alternatives Association.

The findings of the study, which was conducted in Philadelphia in August of 2013, by Professor Igor Burstyn, Drexel University School of Public Health, are clear. They provide solid information about e cigarettes. The findings clearly state that chemicals used in e cigarettes pose no health concern for users or bystanders. Click on the links below to read more.

Individuals Demand the Facts

As our society begins to transition to electronic cigarettes, it s normal to pose a few questions. After all, it s important that e cigarettes do not increase any problems for the traditional smoker who s trying to stop tobacco. And, family members need to feel the surrounding air they breathe is safe as well.

The university study that reviewed all possible hazards of inhaling e cigarette vapor clearly stated that e cigarettes contain no toxins to affect health in any way. Complex situations were set up to determine health risks, but none were found.

The actual impact of nicotine on the users of e cigs themselves was not part of the study. Only the flavorings and issues surrounding the vapor going into the air and into the lungs of users and bystanders were examined in the study.

In the conclusions, nicotine was mentioned in the category of a stimulant, such as caffeine. In addition, findings stated that many studies have already been conducted on nicotine. Bystanders are not exposed to any level of nicotine that would be an issue.

Consumers Want Reassurance

Many groups supporting health issues have submitted proposals to ban e cigarettes in all places where traditional cigarettes are banned. These concerns are based on potential risk to bystanders who might breathe in smells or vapor.

More and more Americans are becoming aware of chemical contaminants coming from factories, pesticides, beauty products in aerosol cans, and so forth. But, the study regarding electronic cigarettes shows there is no reason to worry.

CASAA published the following in an article By reviewing over 9,000 observations about the chemistry of the vapor and the liquid in e cigarettes, Dr. Burstyn was able to determine that the levels of contaminants e cigarette users are exposed to are insignificant, far below levels that would pose any health risk. Additionally, there is no health risk to bystanders.

This is especially good news for parents with small children in the home, hospital workers who often need to vape an e cigarette inside the hospital and American workers who need to reassure their families and nearby co workers that e cigarettes do not pollute the air with contaminants.

An attorney we ll call James says he s very relieved about the report. James has switched to electronic cigarettes, and he hasn t smoked tobacco in a year.

I was trying to argue my viewpoint to my associates that my e cigarette was acceptable at our lunch table, James explains. James says that he had no real facts, so his fellow attorneys were kind of poking fun at him. Now, laughs James, I have the facts. I can present my case for e cigarettes with scientific research to back me up.

James also explains that his niece has switched to electronic cigarettes. She is a senior in college, and she s determined to stop smoking tobacco.

My niece tells me she s going to advocate more for e cigarettes on campus, says James. Now that she has read the new facts about health issues and electronic cigarettes, she wants to convince many of her friends to go smoke free.

Resources

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