Tobacco companies are choosing to diversify as fewer Americans are choosing to smoke. Reynolds American is exploring smokeless tobacco products, like Snus and dissolvable products like orbs, strips and sticks. I have discussed these non cigarette products in the past.
Recently, tobacco company Lorrilard (known for Kools and based in NC) announced that it has purchased a company that makes electronic or e cigarettes.
I do NOT like these devices which heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco) with a battery and allow smokers to inhale a vapor of nicotine and other chemicals. Learn more about them here.
My reason for writing about it today has to do with something that a reporter said when announcing the purchase.
She correctly stated that the e cigarette was regulated as a tobacco product not as a medication (which is the less restrictive option) but then she said that e cigarettes were often used as a cessation (stop smoking) aid.
NO NO NO
One cannot have it both ways. In order for the e cigarette to be marketed as a medication it has to prove safety and efficacy through drug trials. It has not and thus cannot and it isn't - by the way- safe (probably not effective either).
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