"Instead of fearing what e-cigarettes might contain, we should be terrified of what is actually in a regular cigarette. The best thing we can do for public health is to cut taxes on anything that makes people stop smoking tobacco" writes Mr Erik Helmerson on DN's editorial page
Do you like Vejpkollen? Then you can support the work of the magazine!
SWISH: 1231093830
Or support continuously. Become a Patreon (i.e.: support subscription to Vejpkollen). Link to the PATREON VEHICLE CHECK on PATREON
On the editorial page of the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, Erik Helmersson takes a clear stand in favour of e-cigarettes and other harm-reducing alternatives to regular cigarettes. He argues that electronic cigarettes are surrounded by myths and that common sense should prevail. Mr Helmersson also mentions the recent reports (2019, editor's note) on lung diseases, which are wrongly linked to regular e-cigarettes.
"More than eight million people worldwide die every year from tobacco smoking. Regular e-cigarettes do not even belong in the same league. It turns out that the deaths in the US were caused by illegal products. The same rules apply to e-cigs as to alcohol: don't consume anything you don't know where it comes from" scribe Erik Helmersson (locked article, editor's note)
Dangerous cannabis e-liquid
As Vejpkollen previously reported Since the beginning of the outbreak, the US authorities have suspected that the deaths, and now over 800 cases of illness, are due to cannabis/THC products circulating on the black market. Unnaturally high levels of the substance e-acetate have been found in the lungs of 90 per cent of those who have fallen ill. And there is evidence that the substance was present in the e-juices they vaporised and inhaled. E-acetate is not water-soluble and is therefore not found in ordinary e-liquid.
Putting lives at risk
However, news coverage of the deaths has mostly centred on e-cigarettes with nicotine, and not THC juice with e-acetate. According to several commentators and health scientists, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not been clear about what caused the diseases. Instead, the CDC has warned against e-cigarettes in general. Epidemiologist Michael Siegel says that the CDC has long had an unreasonably negative attitude towards e-cigarettes. And that it showed when the outbreak was a fact.
"They haven't bothered to clearly distinguish between regular e-juices and THC juices. There is a huge difference in terms of risks and health hazards. A huge failure that puts lives at risk" writes Michael Siegel in the Natinal Review
"Not as dangerous as smoking"
Erik Helmersson on a similar track.
"E-cigarettes have been on the European market for over 10 years. Like all young drugs, it is surrounded by myths. What is actually in those devices? Something deadly chemical? There are several answers. One is that we do not know how dangerous it is. Another is that it is not nearly as dangerous like smoking tobacco" writes Erik Helmersson.
Want to cut taxes on alternatives
Erik Helmersson argues that public health worldwide would benefit enormously if tobacco smoking were replaced by other ways of utilising nicotine.
"Yet governments insist on treating all tobacco consumption in the same way: with scaremongering, heavy taxation and various bans. Instead, taxes on snus, chewing gum, electronics and other products that encourage people to use nicotine in other ways than by inhaling tobacco smoke should be significantly reduced," writes Erik Helmersson.
