2011: E-Cigarettes In The News, In The Law, And In The New Year

The Electronic Cigarette in Review - 2011

In many ways, 2011 was a landmark year for the electronic cigarette.

From the earliest days last February when the FDA sought to regulate e-cigarettes, to more and more local city or statewide bans on smoking in public places that blindly lumped e-cigs in tobacco products, there’s been much public, political and legal resistance to our favorite smokeless nicotine delivery devices.

Besides an unprecedented number of startups and vapor-varieties and technical innovations for electronic cigs, this is probably more due to the upgraded 2011 profile of vaping.

While most vapers don’t appear on television or otherwise court fame, we’ve still seen well known rappers, recognized big Hollywood actors and actresses, and well respected authors going “digital”.

When ryhme master Tyrese, Jack Sparrow player Johnny Depp or Grey’s Anatomy Emmy-winning Katherine Heigl all either casually smoke or even rhapsodize about electronic cigarettes publically, there is going to be the beginnings of a cultural awakening…

Which, inevitably, carries both good and bad reactions – intelligent curiousity or blind stupidity.

Which is why it wasn’t surprising to see city councils in California, Ohio and lately Boston, Massachusetts bring down the ban hammer.

But there has been a public backlash, with some of these cities ending up overturning, refining and ultimately excluding non-tobacco-burning products like the electronic cigarette from, their rules and ordinances.

And with people like TheSafeCig founder ( the first to bring e-cigs to North America) John Cameron making the network news rounds from Fox to CBS, and other articulate interviews and public exposure in the media, 2012 is starting to look preeetty good for the Vaposphere.

So Happy New Year! And go celebrate with a good, safe inhalation of vapor – or switch if you really want to keep that resolution for 2012 and quit smoking!