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E-cigarette sparks attention as FDA cracks down
Computer-aided sensor uses heat to vaporize the nicotine solution
Ken Mclaughlin | MCT
Issue date: 3/30/09 Section: News
SAN JOSE, Calif. (MCT) - The young man in the tall swivel chair at the mall seems lost in nicotine nirvana as he takes a deep drag on a cigarette and blows smoke rings to the surprise of passing shoppers.
Sarah Kruberg, a 21-year-old college student from Portola Valley, Calif., does a double take but keeps walking.
"I knew it couldn't be someone smoking a cigarette," she said with a laugh. "But I didn't know what it was."
What Kruberg saw at Westfield Valley Fair mall in Santa Clara, Calif., was a kiosk salesman puffing away on an electronic cigarette, a new product that Jose Canseco, the steroid-tainted baseball slugger turned e-cigarette pitchman, predicts will "revolutionize the industry of smoking."
Health officials worldwide, however, are casting a wary eye.
Last summer a Florida company began aggressively marketing e-cigarettes - which emit a nicotine vapor with the help of a computer chip - but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration now seems poised to pull e-cigs from the market because the agency considers them "new drugs." That means they need approval from the FDA, which requires companies to back up their claims with scientific data.
"It is illegal to sell or market them, and the FDA is looking into this," said Rita Chappelle, an agency spokeswoman.
Asked if that meant the FDA would crack down on the dozens of mall kiosks nationwide where the product is being sold like perfume and cell phone covers, Chappelle said: "This is an open case. Beyond that, I cannot comment."
Informed of the FDA's position, David Burke, general manager at Westfield Valley Fair, said Monday that the shopping center is looking into the legality of the product.
"All our retailers are required to comply with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations," he said.
Invented in China several years ago, the e-cig not only "smokes" like a cigarette. It also looks like a cigarette, feels like a cigarette, glows like a cigarette and contains nicotine like a cigarette.
Sarah Kruberg, a 21-year-old college student from Portola Valley, Calif., does a double take but keeps walking.
"I knew it couldn't be someone smoking a cigarette," she said with a laugh. "But I didn't know what it was."
What Kruberg saw at Westfield Valley Fair mall in Santa Clara, Calif., was a kiosk salesman puffing away on an electronic cigarette, a new product that Jose Canseco, the steroid-tainted baseball slugger turned e-cigarette pitchman, predicts will "revolutionize the industry of smoking."
Health officials worldwide, however, are casting a wary eye.
Last summer a Florida company began aggressively marketing e-cigarettes - which emit a nicotine vapor with the help of a computer chip - but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration now seems poised to pull e-cigs from the market because the agency considers them "new drugs." That means they need approval from the FDA, which requires companies to back up their claims with scientific data.
"It is illegal to sell or market them, and the FDA is looking into this," said Rita Chappelle, an agency spokeswoman.
Asked if that meant the FDA would crack down on the dozens of mall kiosks nationwide where the product is being sold like perfume and cell phone covers, Chappelle said: "This is an open case. Beyond that, I cannot comment."
Informed of the FDA's position, David Burke, general manager at Westfield Valley Fair, said Monday that the shopping center is looking into the legality of the product.
"All our retailers are required to comply with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations," he said.
Invented in China several years ago, the e-cig not only "smokes" like a cigarette. It also looks like a cigarette, feels like a cigarette, glows like a cigarette and contains nicotine like a cigarette.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 7
Stew
posted 3/30/09 @ 11:40 AM EST
I've had one for about 6 months now - it's great!
Jamie
posted 3/30/09 @ 2:21 PM EST
Hmmm...I'd have to do some more research too before I believe this can help someone quit. It seems like I would almost end up replacing my regular cigarettes with this one. (Continued…)
Robin Anderson
posted 3/31/09 @ 7:36 AM EST
I don't believe the article ever stated that the electronic cigarette was designed to help folk quit smoking...sounds more like a means to smoke in public places because there's no second-hand smoke to worry about!
So, nicotine is a legal drug a la it's legal to buy regular cigarettes, patches and chewing gum containing same. (Continued…)
Ghost
posted 3/31/09 @ 10:07 AM EST
The drug companies want a cut of it. This will most likely become prescription only. I'm sure the doctors will get their kickback for writing prescriptions for this product. (Continued…)
Robert
posted 3/31/09 @ 7:10 PM EST
I have been using the electronic cigarette for a couple of months now. I have nothing but good things to sat about it. I can breath much easier, I have more energy, and I have cut down to the blank cartridges recently so I am not inhaling any nicotine anymore! How safe is this to cigarettes would you think? Think of it like this, while I take a hot shower in the morning I am breathing steam and when I wash my hair the shampoo is vaporized and I breathe the chemicals in the shampoo that contain ammonia, aluminum sulfate, and other chemicals that I can not even spell. (Continued…)
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