Ken Wassum, Senior Product Manager, Tobacco:   It appears that manufacturers of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) have shrugged off the efforts of the FDA to limit access to e-cigs and to point out safety concerns (read final FDA Report here). One brand, Smoking Everywhere, has filed an injunction to try and halt the FDA’s authority to block import of these products, citing the FDA “lacks jurisdiction to regulate its product.” The FDA claims (and rightly so), “SE’s [Smoking Everywher... [More]

Ken Wassum, Senior Product Manager, Tobacco:   Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigs, continue to attract the attention. Those paying attention include smokers who are looking for a “safer” way of continuing to smoke, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) who is concerned about the lack of safety data on these products, and, of course, ambitious entrepreneurs world-wide looking to make a buck or yuan. Let’s take another look at what we actually know about these products. Ma... [More]

Ken Wassum, Senior Product Manager, Tobacco:   Does the electronic cigarette, commonly called the E-cig, hold promise for a healthier alternative to smoked tobacco?  Or, is it potentially dangerous?  There is a lot of fuss about this product.  Some of it is justified and some of it is a little silly –well intentioned, but still silly. Those who support the E-cig say it provides a safe alternative to smoked tobacco, and they could be right.  They argue that since the product delive... [More]

Ken Wassum, Senior Product Manager:   Is that person over at the corner table at your favorite smoke-free restaurant smoking? Maybe yes…maybe no. A new product on the market is the electronic cigarette. Here’s how they work. Each unit has a cartridge containing nicotine and water, a heating element, and a battery. Most look pretty much like a real filtered cigarette. When you puff on the filter, the element vaporizes the water/nicotine solution and you take that into your lungs. N... [More]