A week ago we read an article discussing a 119-page document, created by RJ Reynolds, that was submitted to the FDA in the US calling for a ban on all open vapor products.
What is an “open vapor product” you might ask? Good question! An open vapor product is any vaping product that requires a refill or application of e-liquid to function. This includes all mods, tanks, refillable cartridges, and ultimately, bottles of e-liquid.
The article, which you can read here, gives a perspective that we can all understand. They say that RJ Reynolds does not want these open vapor products on the market because they make replacing tobacco far easier.
We can agree with that because we've been there. We've tried the closed vapor products, better known as disposable e-cigarettes, and these systems are in no way shape or form a replacement for tobacco. The frustration a consumer experiences from using cheaply manufactured devices, low-quality liquid, and a rather hefty price tag can make vaping incredibly unappealing.
That’s what RJ Reynolds is really after. If they’re able to get open vapor products banned from the market they not only corner the offerings, they drive consumerism back to their literal cash crop.
We can’t imagine the FDA will take a tobacco company’s opinion seriously in the anti-tobacco fight, but money buys a lot of things. Support of the government is one piece of the puzzle for purchase, but so is industry to some extent.
This presentation of a 119-page document to the FDA should signal to everyone in our industry that, while Big Tobacco may be supporting vaping efforts to some extent, they’re hedging their bets on both sides of the fence.
Drop Big Tobacco, folks, and when you find some of your favorite products support RJ Reynolds and/or other Big Tobacco lobbyist groups, drop them too. That’s what we did. Ask Johnson Creek.
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