FDA - Proposal to Regulate E-Cigarettes

Nicotine IS a addicting drug, period.  No matter how it's delivered.  What the FDA should be doing is regulating all nicotine delivery products the same why any addictive drug.

"Appeal growing among kids, FDA cracks down on ‘wild west’ of e-cigarettes" PBS NewsHour 4/24/2014

Excerpt

JUDY WOODRUFF (NewsHour):  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that it intends for the first time to regulate the ever-growing business of electronic cigarettes.  Sales have grown to $3 billion a year.  And some public health experts are worried about its rise.

The number of middle and high school students using e-cigarettes doubled between 2011 and 2012.  Under the new rules, sales would be banned to anyone under the age of 18.  Companies would have to register their products and ingredients with the FDA, but they can continue marketing to adults.

New regulations would also apply to cigars, pipe tobacco, and hookahs or water pipes, for the first time.

There are many questions about the agency’s approach.

Mitch Zeller is the director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products.  And he joins me now.