Following the amendment voted on by the government yesterday, we decided this morning to write a letter with the bottom of our thoughts and to send it directly to all the political parties which will participate in the upcoming elections. It may not help but after all the time spent writing, turning magazines and trying to save lives through mutual aid and information for more than 2 years, the publication of this amendment has prompted us to let go of what we had in our hearts. We share it with you, not to create the buzz or to be clever, but quite simply out of pride to have been able to express our concern, our dismay and also our hopes for what remains of freedom and value in this country. We remain aware that whatever happens, it will be difficult to fight against the two biggest industries in the world, the pharmaceutical industry and the tobacco industry.
« President, Director,
As a communication medium around the electronic cigarette, we are contacting you today to share with you the great concern and consternation of users of personal vaporizers.
The transposition of the tobacco directive as well as article 53 of the health law proposed by Minister Marisol Touraine provides for seriously damaging the future of a revolutionary and effective means of smoking cessation. In addition we note that the tobacco industry now offers personal vaporizers of lesser quality which will become if we allow the only objects still legal in France. It is a real disaster and a setback for the health of the French, moreover it would lead to the closure of thousands of specialized shops.
Even more serious, while the associations for the defense of electronic cigarettes and the vapers themselves are organizing a defense, the government yesterday passed amendment AS1404 in force without anyone talking about it in the media. This amendment provides in the fifth point of its article 20 the prohibition in the majority of media (radio, television, internet, press, sponsorship) of direct and indirect advertising for electronic vaping devices and the refill bottles that are available to them. associated, whether they contain nicotine or not. Clearly, communication media like ours (blogs, sites, forums) which have been there for many years to help smokers fight against tobacco and use this effective alternative will be banned. The only communication that exists on the subject in France will be eradicated.
On the last point, we are also entitled to ask ourselves how a bottle of e-liquid that does not contain nicotine can be included in a law about tobacco.
If we are writing to you today it is because we are worried, many doctors and researchers around the world have already proven the almost harmless nature of the e-cigarette, and while several countries are starting to legitimize and opening on this device, France, country of freedom quite simply decides to make disappear little by little one of the greatest health inventions of the century.
Our Minister of Health, Marisol Touraine decided not to take into account the conviction of several million vapers in France and the Dutch government preferred to financially help the tobacco industry at the beginning of the year rather than take decisions of public health.
A few days before the elections, we would like to remind you that vapers are voters and that if the government has chosen to act against electronic cigarettes and to let one in two smokers die from this scourge, your convictions may be different.
You have the opportunity to save millions of lives by supporting the personal vaporizer, to leave an imprint in history like those who will fight to stop this real genocide caused each year by the tobacco industry. We need your support, we need these values of freedom which will allow each smoker to be able to free himself from this scourge of tobacco.
We are fighting for the withdrawal of this amendment AS1404, so that we can continue to talk and discuss electronic cigarettes on forums, blogs and dedicated websites. We are fighting against this unfair transposition of the tobacco directive, which would be an unprecedented health disaster.
Currently, vaping communities and associations for the defense of electronic cigarette users no longer know where to turn. We are ignored when our only desire is to save lives! We would badly need support so that a great Republican debate is held around this subject. Hundreds of studies in favor of the personal vaporizer have been published, unfortunately they are not highlighted.
If today nobody saves this innovation, this smoking cessation, millions of lives will be condemned ...
Mr. Director, millions of voter vapers really count on your presence and your support in the fight to save the personal vaporizer.
cordially«
