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Eye on the Industry
Former US Surgeon General JoinS
The eCigarette industry has had a hard fight for credibility among national anti-smoking initiatives . This is primarily due to the FDA ’ s abstinence-only policy for quitting smoking . The agency will only recognize the legitimacy of devices and therapies designed to eliminate nicotine use , even if they accomplish the goal of getting people off cigarettes by weaning them onto less hazardous nicotine delivery systems .
The FDA has been instrumental in shaping the national perception of nicotine replacement therapies like eCigarettes , and there are few public figures with either the clout or credibility to contradict the agency in any meaningful way . Recently , however , the eCigarette industry has made a powerful ally in its struggle for legitimacy .
Former U . S . Surgeon General and longtime anti-smoking crusader Richard Carmona has joined the fight on behalf of the eCigarette industry . Carmona recently accepted a position in the board of directors at NJOY , the leading producer and retailer of eCigarettes in the United States . To understand the significance of Carmona ’ s endorsement of the eCigarette industry , a little background is necessary .
Carmona was appointed Surgeon General under President George W . Bush from 2002 to 2006 . During his service , he spearheaded the most vigorous anti-smoking campaign our nation has ever seen . His 2006 report on the dangers of secondhand smoke and the marginal financial impact of indoor smoking bans on restaurants and bars set the stage for the
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