Why we don't sell "Weed Stuff"

Oh, the fun of front-paging a subreddit.

That’s what we managed to do a couple of days ago in r/electronic_cigarette, and it was really cool! We got a lot of quality feedback on our sign and how we should/should not promote our products. Some of the feedback was curious, asking “Why don’t you sell weed paraphernalia? You’re just alienating customers by not broadening your market.” We felt compelled to offer a response.

We operate our shop in a town that has, since 1999, employed vague ordinances and threat of legal action to prevent the sale of paraphernalia. If we attempted to sell items related to the consumption of marijuana or other illegal drugs we could get shut down, fined, or whatever else happens when a business goes up against the city. Whatever it is, we’re not interested in finding out.

Also, it’s not a part of the business we’re interested in involving ourselves in. We’re interested in offering alternatives to tobacco users and developing a community support system grounded in helping folks quit tobacco. Establishing any directives other than this would muddy the way people view our motive. Honestly, like anyone in business, we’re in business to make money. We’re not in business to only make money though, and that’s why it’s important for us to keep our focus on vaping as a tobacco alternative or recreation for recreation sake, not the use of recreational drugs.

We’re not saying that we approve or disapprove of other shops offering different types of products. It’s their choice to sell what they can legally sell. It just doesn’t fit us.

The reason we put the sign together is because people continue to come to our shop, receive personal attention from our staff, and end up leaving dissatisfied when they realize that we don’t offer marijuana-related products. We’re hoping that this sign helps to educate our customers about what we don’t offer, and saves us some time in fumbling around the subject.

We’re cool with you if you smoke weed, we just don’t have anything for you. Sorry!

What are you willing to endure to quit tobacco?

The FDA recently reviewed whether or not to remove a warning on a popular, doctor-prescribed anti-smoking drug called Chantix.

From the Associated Press: “Eleven advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted to retain the so-called black box warning about reports of suicide, hostility and depression among Chantix patients. Six advisers said the label should be slightly changed and one panel member voted to remove the warning completely.”

These aren’t the only side effects of using this particular anti-smoking drug though. In fact, the suicidal and violent thoughts that occur in individuals who experience those particular side effects are not listed as side effects on Chantix’s website.

The listed side effects are nausea, sleep problems, constipation, gas, and vomiting. Interestingly enough, beneath the above side effects that are listed on Chantix’s website, Chantix also states “These are not all the side effects of Chantix.”

Those are the facts. This is our rant:

A reason people quit smoking is improved quality of life. Regaining senses, including smell and taste, by eliminating tobacco consumption increases one’s quality of life. Quitting tobacco also keeps a person from smelling like tobacco smoke and bettering their social encounters with other individuals. This is without mention of the considerable improvements to one’s quality of life when they no longer require constant smoke breaks and vast amounts of money spent on tobacco products.

If a person uses Chantix to quit smoking, there’s the possibility that they’re trading one negative aspect of consumption for the negative side effects Chantix. Instead of reduced senses of smell and taste, someone may enjoy the taste of their own vomit more frequently. As opposed to smelling like tobacco, individuals may produce less-than-favorable smells on a more regular basis. The “sleep problems” associated with Chantix may also be something that impacts an individual’s ability to function normally, which could lead to far worse issues than having to take a five minute break once an hour just to fulfill an addiction.

The other reason people quit smoking is to prolong their life. This, to us, is a most simple idea. We’ve read that upwards of 30 percent of individuals who use Chantix experience suicidal or violent thoughts when using the anti-smoking drug. If people are killing themselves because of this drug, then it’s a wash. Chantix may be helping to add a few more years to some folks lives, but is it worth possibly drastically reducing the years of life other folks trying to quit smoking?

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again, our product isn’t perfect. Vaping, for a lot of folks, still involves consumption of the addictive chemical nicotine…

…But you know what it doesn’t do? It doesn’t make someone want to kill themselves.