Project #2: Lifting the Ban on Electronic Cigarettes

I. Introduction
A. Attention Statement/Briefly state the problem
1. Hello and thank you for joining us as we discuss a problem that is effecting not
only the citizens of California, but our environment as well.
2.The CDC published a report on February 6th, 2014 states that there are "more
than 480,000 deaths annually (including deaths from secondhand smoke)" in the
United States and that "quitting smoking before the age of 40 reduces the risk of
dying from smoking related diseases by 90%." Tobacco-specific nitrosamines is
the main chemical found in cigarettes that causes cancer, and while it is found in
electronic cigarettes; an independent study by Dr. Murray Laugesen conducted in
2013 found that the amount found is "too small to be accurately measured.. A
Marlboro cigarette contains 1,200 times more of this chemical, and FDA-
approved nicotine patches contain the same amount found in electronic cigarettes.
B. For these reasons I propose we remove bans on electronic cigarettes, but also impose
laws to protect quality, protect consumers, and impose new taxes to open up revenue for
the state of California.
II. Significance
A. Harm 1: Banning electronic cigarettes hurts California's Oceans
a. The Ocean Conservancy, a nonprofit organization, reported on May 16th, 2013
that "the most commonly found piece of trash" was cigarette butts, and that
2,177,931 cigarettes/cigarette filters were littered that year.
b. Traditional cigarette butts are not biodegradable, and often end up polluting
California's oceans. Electronic cigarettes are not "one use only," and their
widespread use could prevent over a million pieces of toxic trash from being
washed into our oceans.
B. Harm 2: Smoking and secondhand smoke related diseases are killing our citizens.
a. According to "Smoking and Tobacco Use" published on CDC.gov April 11th,
2014, "for every one person who dies from a smoking related disease, thirty more
people suffer from at least one more serious illness from smoking." Some of these
debilitating diseases include heart disease, cancer, stroke, lung disease -
emphysema, bronchitis, chronic airway obstruction, and diabetes.
b. Second hand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals of which 250 are
known to be harmful, and can still be dangerous at a distance according to a
publication by the American Lung association from 2012. In 2013, Liu R. of the
Cancer Prevention Institute of California published findings that exhaled
electronic cigarette vapor contains very few of these dangerous chemicals, and
only in amounts so small that they cannot be measured.
III. Inherency
A. Banning electronic cigarettes was meant to deter people from smoking both electronic
and traditional cigarettes, but it does not account for the fact that millions of people are
addicted to tobacco products and are having trouble quitting.
B. Tobacco is not an emerging problem plaguing California. It is a well established,
addictive product with a large customer base that is killing millions of people a year. We
are dealing with both structural and attitudinal inherency because the current policy is
flawed, and there is a lot of misinformation that lead lawmakers to believe that electronic
cigarettes are as harmful as traditional tobacco.
IV. Plan
A. Agent: The State of California
B. Mandates: Congress will pass a bill lifting all bans on electronic cigarettes, and impose
the following restrictions and standards.
1. All electronic vaping juices will be FDA tested to ensure that they are safe for
human consumption.
2. All ingredients in electronic vaping juices will be listed on packaging.
3. Licenses for the sale and manufacture of these devices will be required
4. Electronic cigarettes will only be sold to persons over 18 years of age.
C. Enforcement: Fines will be levied against offending manufacturers and retail agents
who fail to meet the aforementioned requirements.
First offense: retail $2500; manufacturers $5000
Second offense: retail $5000 and 30 day suspension of license; manufacturers
$10,000
Third offense: retail $5000 and license revoked; manufacturers $20,000 and
license revoked for 30 days
D. Funding and Staffing: Will come from normal means and extra expenses will come
from tax revenue collected.
E. Timeline: Immediately
V. Solvency
A. Harm 1: Ban on Electronic Cigarettes harms California's Oceans
1. By allowing widespread use of electronic cigarettes we will cut down on the
most littered item: cigarette butts.
B. Harm 2: Smoking and second-hand smoke related diseases are killing our citizens.
1. Since electronic cigarette smoke does not behave the same way that traditional
tobacco smoke does, we will be extending the lives of ex-smokers as well as
protecting bystanders from the air pollution created by tobacco smoke.
2. Mandatory FDA testing of ingredients will make the vaping juices safe
VI. Advantages: In addition to solving many significant problems, our plan will continue to be
beneficial in the following ways:
A. Our plan will increase revenue for California, since e-cigarettes are not currently being
taxed beyond the normal retail amount.
B. Making these devices legal will open up new channels of funding for their research
and development/smoking cessation.
C. As electronic cigarettes become more and more popular, traditional cigarettes could be
completely phased out.
D. With fewer cigarettes being smoked/littered, our beaches will be even more pristine,
and we may see a bump in tourism.
VII. Conclusion
A. Studies have shown that electronic cigarettes have higher success rates than currently
approved products for smoking cessation as they treat both nicotine withdrawal, and
other addictive qualities of traditional tobacco (such as "hand to mouth" calming
behavior). Our plan addresses the concerns which lead to their initial banning, and leads
to great benefits for California and its citizens.
B. For all of these reasons, we ask you to vote for our government team. Thank you.