Everyone knows the risks which have been long associated with smoking. Lung cancer, throat cancer, tongue (!) cancer, COPD, heart attack, and lots of other scary side effects and medical nightmares which the medical industry assures us are just biding their time, lurking in the dark shadows of the near future, to pounce on us and destroy us should we be so foolish as to smoke another cigarette.

Unfortunately, when it comes to the new breed of water vapor driven, “electronic cigarettes”, it seems the generals of the health industry are, as all generals tend to do, starting out a new war by continuing to fight the last one.

Need proof? Look at what our self-appointed guardians of public safety and health are up to in Vermont. In the dear old New England bastion of liberal politics and preoccupation with the “public good”, electronic cigarettes are facing yet another round of legal challenges at the state level (and if such legislation manages to succeed at the state level, we all know where such measures are headed next!).

Don't let them ban e cig purchases in Vermont. Who knows which state would be next?

In this particular round of unprecedented legal action, the state legislature of Vermont is considering passing a new bill which is aimed at completely eliminating the legality of all deliveries (both public and private), purchases, and resultant sales of all brands of E-cigarette that are currently on the market (and, of course, if this bill should pass, there would likely be additional bans on the manufacture and sale of any future brands of electronic cigarettes as well!). In this current legislation, there is embedded a stiff round of mandatory, fully state enforced, penalties for the violation of these prospective new laws.

These possible penalties include (but presumably are not limited to) up to 5 years of imprisonment. This means that any violation of these new laws would be most definitely considered a felony, rather than a misdemeanor (a criminal violation which is punishable by up to only 1 year in prison). In addition to imprisonment, there would be fines of $5,000 (criminal) and $5000 (civil).

One could only imagine the impact this new prospective legislation would have, not only on manufacturers and retailers of electronic cigarettes, but on their potential buyers as well. Can you imagine the possibility of being fined $10,000, and sent to prison for up to 5 years, merely for going online and purchasing electronic cigarettes?

It’s true that there would be a massive backlash against such foolhardy and wrong headed legislation, similar to that seen during the Prohibition era, but would it be enough to defeat and repeal such perfidious laws that pretend to protect and then enforce the “public good”?

As it stands, opponents of electronic cigarettes have not managed to convince their respective state and federal legislatures to enact such crippling bans. But, who knows what could happen in the future? Users of electronic cigarettes need to be aware of such possible new ban laws, which may be taking shape in their own local region. Keep your eyes peeled, and be ready to protest if the opportunity should arise!

For those of you who weren’t previously aware of the dangers of self-modifying the battery system of an electronic cigarette…don’t do it. It can cost you!

Does your modified e cig look like this? Probably not, but it can be just as volatile!

In February of this year, a man named Tom Holloway, who lives in Niceville, Florida, discovered this firsthand – the very, very, hard way. Mr. Holloway, a professional photographer, Vietnam vet, and father of three, was smoking a self-modified electronic cigarette when it blew up in his face. He lost most of his teeth, part of his tongue, and sustained severe burns all over his face. He also burned up the room he’d been sitting in. Estimated medical and house repair costs were quoted as “in the thousands”.

When fire fighters, who had been summoned to the home by Mr. Holloway’s spouse, first heard the details of the incident, they assumed that someone must have accidentally ignited an oxygen tank. Indeed, Holloway’s home sustained some severe damaged due to the fire that had immediately erupted. However, it was no oxygen tank, just an electronic cigarette battery pack which Holloway had self-modified, presumably to increase its power and speed of delivery.

Mr. Holloway learned, the hard way, not to attempt what, to most of us, would be simply unthinkable. Don’t mess with the battery pack of your electronic cigarette! It’s designed to give you fast, convenient service, but one should never forget that, like all cigarettes, traditional or electronic, it’s also a potential fire hazard in the wrong hands.

One would think that Mr. Holloway, who is, after all, a Vietnam veteran, would know better than to mess with such a potential fire hazard. But, unfortunately, he innocently felt safe “tinkering” around with the unit until he had achieved greater efficiency with it – or so he thought. Needless to say, he was quickly disabused of any such notion. But this revelation cost him his teeth and tongue, not to mention severe third degree burns on his face, which may never heal correctly. A hefty price to pay!

Do not stack e cig batteries! Problems will ensue.

The worst part of it all is that Mr. Holloway cannot blame anyone but himself for his severe misfortune. The manufacturer of his electronic cigarette was not to blame. After all, they had packaged the electronic cigarette cartridge device in correct, industry stipulated, fashion, and had plastered all the due disclaimers and safety warnings on it. Were they to blame if they had not foreseen the event of an inventive gentleman like Mr. Holloway modifying its contents for purposes unknown?

The damage to Mr. Holloway’s home will presumably be covered by his insurance. Likewise, the damage to his person. But will be able to claim any sense of satisfaction for this? He can’t sue the electronic cigarette manufacturer. The damage was due to his tinkering with the device, not due to them selling him a defective product.

In any case, the lesson to be learned here is a simple one. Don’t mess with the battery pack of your electronic cigarette if you like your face in its current condition! Fire is nothing to fool with!