As we all know, it’s an election year, which means
that the debates are heating up. For
vape enthusiasts, this means that the future of the industry may change in the
very near future, depending on which candidate is elected. Many vapers are eagerly following the debates
in order to see whether or not vaping comes up, and what the candidates intend
to do about the industry which is in a great transitional stage due to recent
shifts in legislation and the FDA’s attempt to crack down on the industry like
never before.
Those who have been following the democratic debates
have been hopeful that the left would take a more pro-vaping stance, compared
to the republicans who have a reputation for having their pockets filled by big
tobacco. However, as we’ve seen, leading
democratic candidates seem to be clueless about the vaping industry, to a point
that it’s concerning. If vaping is the
public health crisis that the government wants us to believe it is, surely top
contenders should know a thing or two about the industry before stepping onto
the platform.
Democratic Candidates’ Stances on Vaping
Two weeks ago, candidates Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders
appeared to be very much caught off guard when asked about vaping. Of course, between growing tensions in Iran,
environmental concerns and concerning immigration laws, it’s understandable
that vaping isn’t an issue taking front and center at the debates. Still, Sanders and Biden showed an alarming lack
of education regarding the vaping industry, which is worrying to anyone who
uses e-cigarette products to stay off of tobacco cigarettes.
When asked for his stance on vaping at a recent rally
in Iowa, Biden shared that he demands absolute scientific research regarding
the long-term effects of vaping. He went
on to say that he would require this data before allowing vape products to be
sold. Then, he made it clear that if any
data were to emerge showing that it’s anything less than 100 percent safe, he would
ban the industry altogether. Funny
enough, he didn’t say that he would do the same for the cigarette industry that
claims thousands upon thousands of lives each year.
When it came time for Bernie Sanders to state his
opinion, he dropped a bombshell by stating that evidence shows that vaping has
negative effects on a person’s health.
As we know, no studies have stated this thus far. He went on to make a vague statement about
how the industry needs to cease producing products that “make kids sick.” Shortly after, a campaign staffer attempted
to clarify the Senator’s statement, claiming that he meant that he needs to
study the topic more thoroughly.
Needless to say, we all agree with him.
It’s also worth pointing out that Elizabeth Warren
seems to have a more vape-friendly stance than any of the other democratic
candidates. One thing that we can
absolutely get behind is her insistence that the CDC and DHS come clean about
using news stories about sickness related to THC cartridges to demonize the vaping
industry, which is completely unrelated.
She also seems to be challenging some of the FDA’s unbacked claims in
regard to supposed health risks associated with vaping.
What This Means for the Future of the Vaping Industry
Many have been feeling that the vaping industry is
more heavily scrutinized by the Republican party due to a long history of
strong ties to tobacco industry higher-ups.
Therefore, many vapers have hoped that the Democratic party would be
more insistent that the vaping industry be accessible to all. However, it’s clear that overall,
presidential candidates are alarmingly uninformed when it comes to vaping, with
many parroting mainstream news stories regarding vaping that have been proven
false time and time again.
If there’s one thing that we can hope for, it’s that
all candidates carefully research the vaping industry more thoroughly, so that
the industry can continue to thrive in the coming years. These candidates have the power to make or break
the industry’s future, and we’re relying on them to know what they’re talking
about so that people can continue to use vaping as a means to quit tobacco
cigarettes. Of course, we also hope that
tobacco lobbyists don’t influence the government to pass anti-vaping laws to
suit their agenda.
Democrat or Republican: Politicians Need to Be Properly Educated on
Vaping
If there’s one thing that vapers hope to see over the
next year, it’s more democratic candidates doing their homework on vaping. The future of the industry may very well lie
in their hands, and if they remain largely uninformed, it may be destructive to
the vaping community who relies on this technology to stay off of
cigarettes. In the meantime, we urge you
to reach out to elected officials and ask them to study the facts on vaping.
Leave a Reply