DOCTORS’ LOUNGE
(continued from page 37 )
vapor electronic cigarettes. The FDA, per
the 2009 tobacco law, cannot ban tobacco.
Already, children have been poisoned by
e-cigs (just as US farm laborers have had
tobacco poisoning from picking tobacco).
Already, sales to teens have soared, as e-cigs
are viewed as handy pick-me-ups, like energy drinks, that also help keep one’s weight
down. Already, arguments rage about how
cancer-causing they are – and we will not
know for many many years, as right now so
many smokers of both e- and combustible
cigarettes pollute any such data. Already,
9:41 AM
however, smokers who use them are quitting
real cigarettes at higher rates than with any
other nicotine replacement.
If the FDA’s regulations as proposed go
into effect, it will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars – potentially a few million
– to get the FDA stamp of approval for sale
and advertising. Who has the deepest pockets? Well, not your corner vaping parlor –
the little guys, who say they are traditional
American red-blooded family businesses.
On the other hand, what money the Chinese
100%
may somehow throw at the FDA remains
to be seen. Big Tobacco, by pushing for
regulation of these “dangerous” products,
may ultimately shoot itself in the foot, if
the Chinese take them on. But – as with all
hypocrisy – they’re not about to admit it.
Note: Dr. Barry practices Internal Medicine
with Norton Community Medical Associates-Barret. She is a clinical associate professor at the University of Louisville School of
Medicine, Department of Medicine.
THE GLMS
NEWSLETTER
IS GOING ALL
DIGITAL!
Beginning in January 2015, your Greater Louisville Medical Society Newsletter
will be moving to an exclusively digital format.
This green initiative will drastically reduce paper usage while bringing new and exciting physician info to
your fingertips each month via the GLMS App and www.glms.org.
GLMS is always looking for fresh and efficient strategies to maximize membership funds while maintaining
our outstanding quality of service to you, our members, in every way possible.
So that GLMS may more accurately keep you informed, please make sure we have your current
e-mail address. You can update your e-mail with us via www.glms.org or by contacting GLMS
Membership Coordinator Jennifer Howard at 736-6362 or [email protected].
*Louisville Medicine Magazine remains committed to a print edition.
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