If anyone looks at the poll right now [9:51 AM EST], they are going to be soo bummed.

Glad to see so many Consumerists don't smoke! Of all the ridiculous shills in the consumer arena, this one is the most obvious!

The "health concern trolls" that are fighting e-cigarettes are crazy, if you ask me. They can't possibly be worse than "real" cigarettes. Sure, they should probably regulate the contents and make sure it's as safe as possible. But banning a viable smoking alternative is like taking the razor blade away from a cutter and instead handing her a revolver.

My favorite blog mentioned in my other favorite blog!

[politicalwire.com]

Though technically only CU was mentioned, not The Consumerist.

I have smoked e-cigarettes and must say that they just don't compare. It's not the same fulfilling drag, it's more like a weak little drag and it's impossible to get more. Plus, since each cigarette lasts like 10 times longer than a real one, you tend to just keep smoking forever. Maybe someday a company will make a really good line of them, but for now, there's no contest.

if you don't like this model just wait until Apple releases the iCigarette.

I actually looked into these, but they seem really really sketchy. Even the comments on boards from people that actually use them turned me off of the idea. Plus they seem overpriced and without any kind of quality control.

Since the government just banned what I smoke (cloves) I figured my best option is just to quit, rather than switch to some other thing that will feed my addiction. I started smoking at 12. I'm 30 now. I guess I've supported the tobacco industry long enough.

@Quidnam: I cannot help but come up with a Simpson's quote:

Krusty's Agent: It turns out the Krustyburger is the most unhealthy fast food item ever.
Krusty: Even worse than the Double Krustyburger?
Krusty's Agent: Apparently, yes.

@Karita:
Just wait. It won't be long before you can buy clove mini-cigars.

@Karita: Why were the cloves banned, btw?

/too lazy to google.

@MostlyHarmless: They were considered a flavored cigarette under the FDA's ban on flavored cigarettes.

What a dumb poll, talk about forcing results.

"Sure, what difference can one more unproven and possibly dangerous product make?"

Oh please. We don't yet know whether it is "unproven and possibly dangerous" or "a reduction in health risks". Why is it necessary to automatically sideline those who are interested in the product and think it has potential? Opinions are mixed. So why do I have to answer either "No" (in 4 different iterations) or "Yes" in a way that implies I don't care about the risks? Or has Marc done his own scientific study we should know about?

But those I know who have one say it satisfies the urge to smoke without actually smoking, so it sounds like a nice bet for someone in my life who smokes more than a pack a day, has not had luck quitting with either Wellbutrin or Chantix and whom I want to see quit for the sake of his health.

I sense Marc has a great career ahead of him with Bill O'Reilly or some other inflammatory, marginalizing embarrassment. This with the CVS post the other day has just taken my respect and interest in Consumerist down a notch. Actually, over the past month I have been reading more like once a week or every 2, rather than daily. So I guess this is the "new" Consumerist.

(Obvs, did not answer. But the answer would be "Yes, because I enjoy smoking and believe the health risks of this are less." Too bad that does not fit into one of the 1 yes and 4 no options.)

@thnkwhatyouthnk: And why were the flavored cigarettes banned?

@Quidnam: Yeah, I don't get banning these and not real cigarettes especially since these don't produce smoke. If the person has to do something harmful why would you force them to use something that also harms (or at least bothers) other people?

I don't like cigarette smoke and if smokers would rather use something that's smokeless I say more power to them. (Yeah, they should quit altogether but they already know that.)

@temporaryerror: Ew, I have tried them and they are disgusting. They taste and smell like cigars.

My friends and colleagues keep telling me things like that, or giving me suggestions for importing or rolling my own. I find it funny that most people do that instead of supporting my efforts to quit. lol

@MostlyHarmless: [consumerist.com]

Basically the FDA caving to Phillip Morris.

@MostlyHarmless:
The FAmily SMoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act gave the FDA greater regulatory power over tobacco products but also included a provision that flavored cigarettes(but not menthol) were to be banned.

They were banned because they were seen as a gateway cigarette to get younger people to start smoking.

Unfortunately, this doesn't really hold up entirely. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control had a study showing only a small percentage of underage smoking was from flavored cigarettes, and their use by high school students was declining. Probably because flavored cigarettes tend to be more expensive and underage kids tend to buy cheap and in bulk as it were.(last sentence is an assumption on my part)

Note: Methols are flavored cigarettes, have the largest market share of any flavored cigarette, but are specifically exempt from the ban. Phillip Morris really wanted this bill passed. Phillip Morris also only makes menthol and regular cigarettes. Phillip Morris has a lot of money. I'll leave the deduction to you.

For what it's worth, I want to say, I quit cigarettes thanks to e-cigarettes.

I had been smoking since I was 18 (26 now), three packs a week, one smoke every morning and one after every meal, and half a pack if I were drinking.

I got a starter pack in August for around $40. All it had was two battery packs, one vaporizer and five liquid packs. Only two of those packs was enough to get me over.

It worked this way - after every meal, mornings, before going to bed... whenever I would get an urge to smoke, I'd pull out the e-cigarette, have one puff, and my nicotine fix would be taken care of. I did buy one pack after two weeks because I left my e-cig at work, but even after smoking it sparingly over the next two weeks, I kept using the e-cigarette while at work or whenever I was visiting friends and family and I didn't want to reek of smoke.

In the end, since one puff was enough to cover 1 - 2 cigarettes in my case, I got used to NOT smoking after every meal and every morning. As my liquid packs got used up, with fear of having to wait another week for replacements, I started to use the e-cig less and less.

Six weeks later, I still have the third liquid pack on the e-cig and only use it sparingly, once or twice a week. It's been 4 weeks since my last real smoke, and 2 weeks since my last e-cig puff. I don't even know where I left it.

Even if it is bad for your health, if it can help others like me quit, then I am all for it.

*Keep in mind that this is still not a quit smoking tool. I just happened to be able to use it that way. Also, I hate, HATE smelling like cigarette smoke.

"But health concerns have led to warnings from the FDA that the fakes contain cancer-causing ingredients"

Um...I don't think smokers care if their products contain cancer-causing ingredients. It would be rather amusing if they did.

Even if these things turn out to be just as harmful to smokers as real cigs, wouldn't they (probably) still be less harmful to the public in general due to the lack of secondhand smoke? And if that's the case, banning these and not banning regular cigarettes seems contrary to the public health interests that the FDA supposedly represents.

(Disclaimer: I'd rather not ban real cigarettes OR these fakes, personally).

I was actually considering buying a starter set of the Blu Cigs, going with the non-nicotine flavor packs in cherry and vanilla as a way to curb my sweet tooth. I don't know how intense the flavor is, though, so I don't know if it would really work. Still, probably better than keeping a pack of double-stuf Oreos around the house. >.<

@Rectilinear Propagation:
It wasn't really the FDA caving. The clove cigarettes were banned in the bill that gave FDA power over the regulation. FDA never even got a chance to regulate them.

From the Bill:
(1) SPECIAL RULES-

'(A) SPECIAL RULE FOR CIGARETTES- Beginning 3 months after the date of enactment of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, a cigarette or any of its component parts (including the tobacco, filter, or paper) shall not contain, as a constituent (including a smoke constituent) or additive, an artificial or natural flavor (other than tobacco or menthol) or an herb or spice, including strawberry, grape, orange, clove, cinnamon, pineapple, vanilla, coconut, licorice, cocoa, chocolate, cherry, or coffee, that is a characterizing flavor of the tobacco product or tobacco smoke. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to limit the Secretary's authority to take action under this section or other sections of this Act applicable to menthol or any artificial or natural flavor, herb, or spice not specified in this subparagraph."

So, the FDA has the ability to ban Menthols. But were given power with other flavored cigarettes banned.

@bunnymare: I agree with EVERYTHING you said.

Greetings Consumerist! As an e-smoker for nearly a year, I figure I'd offer my two cents. There are plenty of companies out there (I'm looking at you, Smokingeverywhere) that charge ridiculously high prices for junk. I can see how anyone that got suckered into buying one of their "products" would be very disappointed and turned off of e-cigarettes forever.

However, there are plenty of great products on there. The tried and true models are the DSE801, DSE901, and 510. All three of these will mimic smoking an actually cigarette and work pretty well. I used the 801 exclusively for a very long period of time. There are a few things that people should understand:

The atomizer part of the e-cigarette, or where "the magic happens" frequently fail. Some people consider them disposable. I smoked about a pack to a pack and a half of regular cigarettes a day. At this point, I go through about 3 atomizers and 50ml of juice a month. It sets me back about 50.00 per an order, which is probably less than what I was spending on cigarettes.

I've actually upgraded to "the Prodigy" which can be ordered from "http://www.puresmoker.com" It's a bit pricey, but if you're serious about e-smoking it will make the whole experience much more enjoyable.

That being said, there are several starter kits available that should give you an idea whether or not e-smoking is for you. I tend to order parts and juice from "http://myvaporstore.com" They're reasonable and have very fast shipping. If you really want to give this a try, I suggest ordering an 801 starter kit, some juice (I suggest RY4 or Butterscotch) and an extra atomizer.

Also, if you want to learn more about e-cigarettes than possible, give "http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/" a lookie-lou.

*I am not affiliated with any of the sites I mentioned in anyway at all, aside from being a customer. I hope this information helps someone who is on the fence. I will say that I noticed a few things vanish when I started e-smoking..no more hacking up a lung when I wake up, no more shortness of breath, and my house/clothing/car no longer smells like smoke. Perhaps e-cigarettes will be proven to be as harmful or more harmful than conventional cigarettes, but I highly doubt it.

At least in the short-term, it's been a wonderful solution for me.

We don't yet know whether it is "unproven...

@bunnymare: By definition if we don't know what the health risks or benefits are doesn't that mean it's unproven? No one's proved anything either way.

Yeah, it could have be phrased differently but it's not incorrect.

I currently own an e-cig and it is interesting, to say the least. Does it taste like a real cigarette? Slightly, but it has a taste that takes a while to get used to. It definitely satisfies the craving though, which has helped me cut back on regular cigs. It is a good conversation starter as well as they are still pretty much unknown to the general public. I'm fairly certain the FDA b.s. is just pressure from tobacco companies. The e-cig costs pennies to refill with liquid..the biggest cost is the initial purchase.

Two of my coworkers some these. I don't get it. Actually, I find it kind of creepy. Although, when you plug it in to recharge, the tip glows... which I find kind of awesome, honestly.

One guy smokes it in Walmart just to get a rise out of the employees, which I also don't get.

@Quidnam: My wife used Smoke Anywhere to quite smoking the real things. Although they are certainly safer from a "no tar in your lungs" aspect but there are concerns about the vaporized nicotine.

My guess is that while there are probably carcinogens in them, it is probably a LOT less than what is in a real cigarette. Banning them and not real cigarettes would be hypocritical.

@Karita: I actually took up e-cigarettes in the beginning of August from a company called Blu. They come in several flavors (I've tried them all but the menthol since I haven't touched a real menthol cigarette in 15 years or so) and also different levels of nicotine. I broke open a used cartridge to find out what it was made of and it's not a lot - a tinfoil seal to keep the contents from drying out until use, a tiny ball of what seems to be cotton fiber (like the top of an asprin bottle) that is wet down with the nicotine and flavoring. The fact that there is no flame (only heat that vaporizes the liquid) means no charring so no charcoal or tar forms.

I was a pack a day smoker that was costing me around $180 - $200 a month. I've cut down so much that I only bought $24 -$30 (4 or 5 packs) of real cigarettes this month and now after using the Blu E-Cig I don't really like the taste or the smell of the real ones. My fiance' is thrilled since now he doesn't have to smell it on his & my clothing, there's no ashes making messes everywhere (especially by the computer which is where I smoke the most), no smell in the house, he and I both can breathe better, I can smoke in the vehicles now and in public areas where others have to go outside into the weather, and best of all, there's no second-hand smoke that I'm polluting everyone else around me with. Oh, and I forgot, with it being a water vapor, there's little to no residue left over to clean off walls and windows like the yellow residue left over from traditional smokes. I can honestly say after trying to quite with the patch, the gum, the pill, and some other off the wall ways, this one seems to work pretty well for me. I started out last month with the "light" nicotine amount and dropped down to "ultra light" nicotine amount this month and I haven't smoked more than I did before. I know I'm addicted to nicotine, but at least this way, if I don't manage to quit, I'm only harming myself and not anyone else with my "emissions" along with not ruining posessions/objects and other people's health.

@Karita: Well I think it's great that you're using this as an opportunity to quit. I was thinking that before I read the other comments that respond to yours.

Good luck!

@Rectilinear Propagation: Yeah, it could have be phrased differently but it's not incorrect.

That's why he compared him to Bill OReilly.

@henrygates: They care if they're trying to quit or at least mitigate the damage they're doing to their health.

@Rectilinear Propagation: I don't care for smoking, but it does resolve the stench and smoke issue, meaning it doesn't have an immediate effect on me. Keep killing yourself, just don't bother me while you do it.

It's like the fat dude eating a triple Whopper. Yeah, I know that health costs will rise, but I can deall with that later. What I don't need is nasty smell or smoke as I walk down the sidewalk, just like I don't need the smell of grease.

@chucklebuck: THIS

@drizzt380: That's what I get for just skimming the post.

@Quidnam: Remember who you are dealing with here. Does anyone remember when they used to say that second hand smoke was worse then actually smoking? Logic alone will tell you that is not true. The smoker is getting the second hand smoke and inhaling from the cigarette causing the flame to become much hotter and inhale a lot more smoke. Unless the smoking of a cigarette somehow counter acts the effect of second hand smoke then it is impossible for the non-smoker to be harmed more than the actual smoker.

-Not a smoker just a big fan of logic, reason, gravity, reality such and such

@Rectilinear Propagation: You missed my point by a mile.

@sleze69: It's the "We don't know yet" part that didn't make sense.

Something like this might actually allow my mother-in-law to visit us here in Texas. She is a chain smoker and can't bare to even think about being on a plane for 25 hours without being able to smoke.

Australia seems to have more strict rules about cigarettes than we do here in the US. I noticed that when I was there last time, even though she smoked ALL the time that she was awake, I didn't feel all that sick (allergies) until she started smoking the cigarettes that we brought her from here. (She requested that we bring her duty free scotch, and a carton of menthols. Lol) But when she opened up the ones we brought her, I started feeling sick like I typically do when I'm around smokers. Coughing, sneezing, miserable, sick. I didn't know there could be that much difference, but I guess there is.

@Eat A Peach: Interesting. You know, despite my reservations, I probably would have tried them. But with what I smoke not being available, it's a lot easier to avoid giving in. I hate regular cigarettes so those aren't a temptation.

One thing I've wondered about the e-cigarettes - do people ever freak out on you for smoking where you shouldn't be? They are shaped like cigarettes, so I always imagined some person seeing me using one somewhere, and proceeding to throw me out while ignoring my protestations that I'm not smoking.

@breakspirit: I think they were originally to help people quit. That would explain the longer time and smaller amount, you'd finally say "ah, eff it"

@mbz32190: Thanks for sharing your experience.

@MostlyHarmless: For the kids.

@morganlh85:
Enjoying the view from your tower, are you? I'm sure there's no unhealthy behavior you voluntarily do.

My brother-in-law absolutely loves his e-cigarette. He's never been able to kick the smoking habit (and really, he doesn't want to) but he has been able to quit smoking regular cigs. I don't see any problem with it - he's an adult and can make his own decision.

The e-cigarette doesn't stink like commercial tobacco products, he breathes more easily, he's never going to fall asleep in bed with one and set the house on fire. If he's going to smoke, I don't see that an e-cigarette is worse than tobacco, and it has some advantages.

@bunnymare: yep. I was going to comment on the skewed poll but see you already have it covered.

I'm sure these things have a health risk, but the question is if they are more harmful than old fashioned cigarettes?

Meh, now that i discovered SNUS, there's no need to quit.

@bunnymare: I thought your main point was that it was inflammatory and insulting to smokers. If I'm wrong here, please tell me what I missed.

But I don't agree that the first option is lying or incorrect in saying that it's unproven which you implied when you said "we don't know yet".

@bbagdan: What are SNUS?