“To the government of Australia, I will not
participate in your anti-vape campaigns,
or your uneducated one-sided arguments
but as soon as you're ready to talk solutions,
I'll be there.”
The Chief Communications Officer of global vape shop finder
Vapetrotter has written an open letter to the Australian government
calling for an urgent review of the country’s e-cigarette laws.
Ryan Gelbart is furious that anyone of legal age can buy a packet
of cigarettes in Australia but the sale and distribution of vaping
products is a criminal act.
He wrote: “Cigarettes will always be available for sale, and anyone
of legal age can walk into a store and purchase a packet, no
questions asked.
"But, should you want a product that simulates the sensation of
smoking while delivering nicotine without any of the carcinogens or
the other 7,000 unknown chemicals, the response you'll receive is
plain and simple. ‘Quit or Die’.”
He accused the Australian government of “instilling false fear in
its people” over vaping while saying that the rest of the world has
caught onto the fact that e-cigarettes can save many millions of lives.
Ryan, a former smoker of 10 years, added: “When it comes to
smoking, the Australian government has already chosen who
it wants to listen to … anti-smoking activists who have been
antipathetic to vaping since day one.
“To make matters worse, in a country that prides itself as diplomatic,
fair and ahead of the curve, Australia couldn't be further away from
these self-proclaimed labels when it comes to public health around
new nicotine technology.
“Tobacco remains a significant cause of death and disability
in Australia. Around 3.3 million Australians still smoke, and an
estimated 19,000 people die each year of smoking-related illness.
E-cigarettes are not completely risk-free, but they are vastly safer
than smoking.
“E-cigarettes are at least 95 percent less harmful than smoking.
Why? Zero combustion means zero smoke, and it is the smoke that
contains the health-destroying toxins. Unlike smoking, if a risk were
to be found from a particular ingredient or a process, that ingredient
or process could be removed.
“I’m a proud Australian. I love my country. We really are a special lot.
But it's time we catch up to the rest of the world. To the government
of Australia, I will not participate in your anti-vape campaigns, or
your uneducated one-sided arguments but as soon as you're ready
to talk solutions, I'll be there.”
Ryan also praised the work of Legalize Vaping Australia in standing
up for the vaping industry and “uniting people all over the country
to speak up and tell their side of the story, and cementing a place
towards a smoke-free future.”
VM20 | 61