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Have I Got News For You
Stealthvape’s biggest news of the week has to be ‘The Return of Little Bill’. How wonderful it was to see the mass of messages flooding onto Facebook and Internet forums wishing him a speedy recovery and how understanding customers were that delays might happen. There can’t be many business markets where a vendor is positively encouraged to take time with deliveries because “other things in life are far more important”? We know that vapers are a special bunch of people; this week confirmed it even more.
The launch of the OCD connector has been warmly received by Vapeland’s modders and orders are flying in from all parts of the world. It would be wonderful to see pictures of it in action – why not post a picture or two up onto the Facebook page?
Back out in the real world, NHS Scotland has taken a lead role in standing up for common sense and good science by including electronic cigarettes in its advise to smokers. For the first time in the United Kingdom a health organisation has recognised the popularity of vaping and has instructed all of its smoking cessation services that they should not tell vapers to put down the ecig in favour of NRT products.
Previously, only the NHS Stop Smoking service in Leicester had taken on board such a proactive stance, but now the 24% of Scottish men and 22% of Scottish women who smoke will have the opportunity to vape as part of an integrated policy to reduce smoking-related disease, (figures from ASH Scotland). The guidance sent out states that “current expert opinion on the limited evidence available suggests that they are likely to be considerably less hazardous than tobacco smoking.”
Fiona Moore, public health adviser at NHS Health Scotland, said “increased interest and inquires about e-cigarettes had prompted us to revisit guidance, amid concerns the numbers using quit services were falling, meaning they might be missing out on the extra support these gave.”
Plus, as the saying goes, when America catches a cold Britain sneezes; news from Fortune magazine demonstrates a 24.2% rise in the sales of e-cigarettes and it is predicted that this strong growth will continue at around 25% per annum through to 2018. The market for vaping devices is now conservatively estimated to be worth $1.5billion in the States alone.
Harking back to the research produced by Robert West in the journal Addiction, last month, the progression from 1st to 3rd generation devices is marked. It is also confirmed by the findings of the ASH UK report into vaping and so vendors should continue to see increases in trade despite the looming TPD regulations (however they may be interpreted by Parliament).
It will be interesting to see how the 3rd Gen market develops over the rest of this year as a number of traditionally limited run manufacturers appear to be setting, or have set up an online presence. With Mikro Engineering making the latest run of the Challenger available through Facebook, the Hellfire website advertising atomisers in stock, and new to the market manufacturers set to release products at Vapefest demands for home-made high end devices has never been bigger.
Popping back across the pond there are more positive signs, as reported by Bloomsberg Businessweek. In an interview with Mitch Zeller, head of the Food & Drug Administration, he was quoted as saying that regulators were going to have to keep an “open mind on the potential for these emerging technologies” with regards the health benefits of vaping. That the head of the FDA is now using phrases like “It’s time for us to start looking at nicotine differently” will come as a massive slap in the face for anti campaigners.
Meanwhile, in Boston, gubernatorial candidates were asked for their thoughts regarding the rise and rise of the e-cig. To which one candidate, Mark Fisher responded “I trust that the good citizens of the Commonwealth can decide for themselves how to run their lives and pursue happiness without any interference from the State regarding the sale of e-cigarettes. If the State were to be involved in this, then what’s next, banning Santa Claus because he smokes a pipe, is overweight and has rosy cheeks after enjoying an adult beverage?”
I hope not, Mark, because I’m pretty sure that would upset Little Bill and he’s had enough to cope with this year.
