The Mississippi site is down so I wrote a letter the old fashioned way put it in the mail box. I cant sit by and idly wait for the hammer to drop.
I am a 50 year old female and I smoked 20 cigarettes daily for 34 years. I started dabbling at age 9. I have recently spent a week in the hospital for cardiac issues. While I was in the hospital I found a Blu cigarette that I had purchased a year ago in the bottom of my purse, and I started using it as I could not smoke while in the hospital. It was revolting. When I was discharged from the hospital I did some research online and ordered some V2ecigs for my husband and myself. My husband managed to stop smoking and dipping snuff immediately. However, I continued to smoke 2 tobacco cigarettes in the morning for two days after I commenced the ecigarettes, then I quit completely on the third day.
I have destroyed a large quantity of tobacco that I had purchased duty free. I started vaping ecigarettes on 6/28/2014 and have been tobacco free since 7/1/2014. I am so excited that I have had no desire for a real cigarette since.
In the past I have tried to stop smoking using nicotine replacement therapy and oral medications. I have used the patches on 3 separate occasions and Chantix on 3 separate occasions. Both methods failed miserably I had awful side effects and I really enjoyed smoking tobacco.
I have asthma, emphysema, pneumonia (hospitalized 3 times) and bronchitis every winter due to smoking tobacco. I have noticed improvements in my health already. Prior to vaping ecigarettes, I was coughing, wheezing and short of breath not only in the mornings but throughout the day. I no longer wheeze, cough or have shortness of breath. In fact I have been able to cut down my Advair inhaler to just once daily from twice daily from day two of no tobacco. I anticipate not needing the Advair altogether in the not too distant future. This will be wonderful as it is very expensive.
When I first started using ecigarettes I was using the 24mg strength of nicotine and after one week I am down to 18mg. My husband and I have reduce our e liquid down to 12mg/ml. I am planning on reducing my nicotine intake over a period of time and I would like to do this at my own pace and not feel pressured.
I am not using the first cigalike kit that I first purchased as they are too limiting in flavor (menthol and tobacco). I dislike these flavors so I have upgraded my equipment to an ego twist battery and a tank method of delivery of my e liquids. I have found that I prefer the fruit, beverage and bakery flavors, which is better for me as it is completely unlike tobacco. If I am unable to purchase the variety of flavors that I enjoy, judging from my past experience, I can predict that I will relapse and start smoking tobacco in the future. I really do not want to go back down that road.
My goals for the future are to decrease my level of nicotine, but I will not be able to accomplish this goal using the cigalike ecigarettes. I may even just settle on a low dose 6/3mg. But I want that to be my decision not the governments.
If I do not have the freedom to purchase the supplies necessary to remain tobacco free. I will find a way to continue vaping, by attempting to make may own e liquids.
In regards to children and eliquids if adults are responsible and use common sense and store them appropriately like they would bleach or Tylenol out of reach of children there will be no issues. I only buy eliquids with child proof containers and believe that they should all be sold this way. I have 3 children and thankfully none of them smoke. I am sure they may have tried, as many teenagers do. However, if they did smoke I would prefer that they smoked electronic cigarettes that preliminary research has shown to be safer than combustible tobacco. Studies are also showing that ecigarettes are not a gateway for children to use traditional tobacco. Tobacco products are not sold in child proof containers, I had my first cigarette at age 9 and my smoking habit lasted 34 years.
If unfounded taxes and flavor bans are introduced prior to getting the ecigarette research data, that would be terrible for the people that have nicotine addiction caused by cigarette smoking who have struggled with FDA approved substances. I would go so far as to say a death sentence.
You are in a position to help save lives, I beg you to get all the facts before implementing the proposed rulings. This innovation will save the lives of Mississipians. Please do not condemn us.
If one of your children decided to smoke, which product would be less dangerous?
Thankfully I have been able to make an informed decision based on the research available. I chose to quit smoking cigarettes and reduce my nicotine addiction by using ecigarettes. This would be a crime if others will not have this same choice.
My father died of lung cancer 2 years ago; he gave up smoking 10 years prior. It was a terrible death. Please give me and others like me the opportunity to increase our odds of survival; and the freedom to choose an alternative for the dangerous habit of smoking, chewing, dipping tobacco products.
If I could convert one tobacco smoker to try ecigarettes a day, to help them quit traditional cigarettes I will. I carry a new ecigarette kit with me every day to try and help a smoker quit.
What are you prepared to do for your community, city, State and loved ones?
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Heidi K Cummins
