An alternative to smoking, e-cigarettes have recently been introduced to the market with thousands of Nova Scotians already using them. At the heart of the debate is Connors who operates one of the few e-cigarette businesses in Atlantic Canada.
“In a matter of five months 10,000 e-cigarettes were sold from one shop in rural Nova Scotia,” Louis Brill, President and CEO of the Lung Association of Nova Scotia stated in a release, making reference to The End Vapour Shop. “Without question the need to address this topic is clear as more and more Nova Scotians are interested in understanding if e-cigarettes are harmful or helpful and often times these people will look to the Lung Association for advice. Our goal of this public discussion is to explore all sides of the e-cigarette story, enabling us to create a more informed position and to better advise the public how to improve their lung health. “
An e-cigarette is a new device that resembles a traditional cigarette and releases vapour upon inhalation. The battery-operated device contains a mixture of water, flavors and sometimes nicotine. There is no tobacco in e-cigarettes.
The Lung Association of Nova Scotia is asking people to share their perspectives as they explore the topic at an e-cigarette forum and has invited current smokers, people who have quit smoking, people impacted by lung disease including lung cancer and COPD, members of the public health community, tobacco manufacturers and sellers, e-cigarette sellers and users, in addition to the general public to attend.
The e-cigarette forum will be held on Jan. 21, with check-in at 6 p.m., at the Nova Scotia Community College – Institute of Technology Campus.
Connors said the biggest thing she wants to get across when she speaks is that e-cigarettes are a safer alternative than smoking tobacco. Without the other ingredients included in traditional cigarettes, she said people are naturally going to be less impacted.
She said the biggest argument she’s heard against the e-cigarettes is that it renormalizes smoking. Opponents to the device say that by making it a common place sight in public places, it will encourage people to smoke. Connors says that’s simply not the case and she believes it would have no more impact on influencing someone to start smoking or pick up the habit again than burning incense would.
That said, she said she would welcome certain regulation of the industry.
For instance right now there is no law on what age you can sell the product to. For her own part, Connors said, she refuses to sell to anyone without seeing ID.
“I’m self-regulated. I will not sell to anybody under the age of 19.”
So far, that hasn’t been a problem, though. She’s actually found that her largest customer base has been the older portion of the age spectrum. People who have smoked for 50 years, tried all the alternatives and still have been unable to quit are flocking to the e-cigarettes, she said. She actually delivers her products to the nursing homes in the area where they are now quite commonly used.
Connors said she would also welcome more regulation on who can sell the product.
“I want there to be a license for vendors to be able to sell the product,” she said.
She said there are people who are just wanting to make money off the product and are selling items that could be hazardous. For instance she makes sure that her products have a shut off so they can’t be overcharged, whereas some people are selling ones that could overcharge and leak or have other problems.
In the end she’s glad there is going to be a discussion on the topic and hopes that it clears up some of the misinformation people have.
“I understand fully that they’re curious and they’re worried, but if they actually did the proper research their worries would be put to bed.”
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