An article that appeared in the National Post out of Canada set to taking apart arguments made against e-cigarettes by prohibitionist groups. The article went essentially point-by-point picking apart objections from antifreeze to a gateway for youth. Interestingly, the article pointed out that even prohibitionists admit e-cigarettes are less harmful than the real thing.
Appearing on CBC Radio’s The Current last week, Melodie Tilson, policy director with the Non-Smokers’ Rights Association, admitted there’s “virtually no chance an e-cigarette could be as harmful as a tobacco cigarette to the individual using the product.” But this fact, which should be the most important consideration for anyone interested in reducing the number of deaths caused by smoking, is not enough for people who don’t just hate cigarettes — they hate anything that resembles them.
“We need to look at the bigger picture and their impact on overall smoking rates,” Tilson continued. “If the widespread promotion of these products, and availability, causes young people to use them and then transition to actual cigarettes, that’s an increase in harm.”
So, apparently, if you're already a smoker it doesn't matter what's best for your health. I guess smokers are already dead. It's more important to protect young people from an imaginary threat.
