*Potential* warning about Waffle juice.

[Cit-e Steamer]

It amazes me that some people seem to be more concerned about how these juices will effect their attys instead of their lungs. I mean, in bulk, attys cost about as much as a pack of cigarettes. And, if a certain juice is gumming up your attys, then what is it doing to your lungs?

And, to answer the question "since when have ex-smokers become health nuts", my answer is simple. Except for smoking cigs, I have always been very health conscious. At age 38, I eat healthy food and exercise 4+ times a week. And, in my quest to find a healthier alternative to smoking, I discovered PVs. Isn't that the reason why many of us made the switch? So, if I am going to use a device that claims to be infinitely safer than smoking, shouldn't I, in the interest of my health, ask these difficult questions? Damn right I should!

As much as I am against the FDA stonewalling and overregulating the use of PVs in the US, there seems to be a need for some sort of regulation. Many of these suppliers are seemingly running fast and loose and that could be detrimental to all of us; both consumers and vendors. If certain vendors continue to sell e-liquid with no documented quality control and no idea as to the exact composition of the juice and, furthermore, no idea as to the effects of certain flavors on the lungs, trachea and mouth; the FDA and other adversarial organizations will have all of the ammunition that they need to strike down our rights as vapers.

Personally, I reserach the juices that I buy by: (1) checking the listed ingredients and (2) thoroughly questioning the vendors as to their liquid sources, quality control standards and (3) confirming the quality of ingredients; particularly the nictone and flavors. But, even with that level of consumer diligence, there still remain many unanswered questions.

In the process, I have found a handful of vendors who offer a seemingly safe product with great scrutiny concerning the composition of the juices that they sell. These are the vendors that we should all be patronizing as they will provide a product that, upon testing, will test far more favorably than the juices with no documented quality control or knowledge of potentially harmful flavors. To hell with the rest of these vendors. I compare them to the bootleggers during prohibition who knowingly put "rot gut" (lethal) hooch into the stream of commerce.

Back to my point on flavors: I would rather inhale a harmless, relatively tasteless liquid into my lungs instead of taking my chances with juice flavored with ingredients that we not intended to be inhaled although they are safe for digestive consumption. Are these goofy flavors really worth having the PV house of cards fall to the ground. It seems that some vendors, in the interest of creating the most flavorful juice, disregard the potential effect of these flavorings on the health of their consumers.

We are currently at war with the FDA and many other NGOs who are hell bent on outlawing these products. And many of us say, well, what can I do to help. The simple answer, as consumers, is to buy the highest quality liquid regardless of the yummy flavors. To do that effectively, you must grill your vendors as to the quality and safety of their liquids This will apply pressure on these vendors to up their knowledge ofthe exact ingredients in their liquid, research and quality control standards. As a vendor, if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.

I would very much like to actively fight against the powers that be to protect the rights of PV users. But, with this wild west mentality of some e-liquid vendors, advocates of PV use will have one hand tied behind their backs in this fight. And, as vendors, if you are not careful, you could open yourselves up to potential liability and the possibility of endless litigation. I am less concerned about the VG, PG and nictone and far more concerned about this endless array of untested flavors (as to their effect on the respiratory system). Especially, if, as a vendor, you are marketing your products as safe when you really have no clue as to their safety.

With those handicaps, how can the advocates be successful in fighting PV public use bans and the like. We need to get together (the vendors in particular) to help fund studies that will definitively answer these questions. Then, a list can be created which disallows the use of flavorings that are potentially harmful to the health of vapers. To simply say "it is better than smoking alanlogs" is an argument with too many holes. It is the argument of either a simpleton or a greedy businessman and it completely misses the point.

Wake up people! This is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately and, if not, it could have devastating consequences. I know that these aforementioned points are not exactly what everyone wants to hear but, you can't argue with the logic and reasonableness of the position.

Honestly, as a consumer, I have enough hardware to last me for years. And, I can , in the future create DIY juices that meet my perdonal criterie for safety. It is the new and/or future consumers who will never have a chance to experience this wonderfuland seemingly safe means of administering nicotene into our bodies. But, I would hate to see our cause struck down just because of the unscrupulous and clueless practices of certain vendors. CYA vendors and you will cover our asses as consumers.