Dear Governor Cuomo, 

 I write this today as a final plea that you reconsider the ban on flavored E-cig juice set to take effect at the start of October. Millions of Americans throughout the country have been successful in escaping the tight grip of traditional cigarettes with the use of electronic cigarette devices. I myself started smoking cigarettes at the young age of sixteen, I’m now Twenty-six and have been using an electronic device for two years. I along with so many others tried to quit cigarettes with nicotine gum, nicotine patches, and even therapy all unsuccessfully. Electronic devices finally gave me a chance to take my freedom back. The freedom to never again expose my family or friends to harmful second hand smoke. The freedom to be present for all the most important moments in my daughter’s life. The freedom to not have the smell of stale cigarette smoke pumping out of my pores. The  freedom of letting go of the financial burden cigarettes put on my life. Having the freedom to take control of my health and body. Aside from the benefits these devices have brought me, I implore you to also consider how this ban will adversely effect small business owners and their employees all over the state. Vape supply shops are contributing to the local economies throughout the state with their tax revenue and have created thousands of new jobs throughout the state. Governor Cuomo you must understand we are all on the same team. Together the vaping community can work with legislators to find a solution to underage use, however a total flavor ban is not the answer. The recent illnesses have been linked to both counterfeit THC products and counterfeit devices, not flavored juice. A ban will only fuel the counterfeit industry and this is evident from past attempts at prohibition. Efforts should be focused on getting counterfeit products off the street, education about the risks, and enforcement of age restrictions. A flavor ban has the potential to push the over one million vape users in New York State back to much more harmful traditional cigarettes. Losing access to these products has the potential to create an avoidable health crisis. A flavor ban will also be devastating to the small business owners, and their employees that rely on these sales to operate. The citizens of New York State deserve better.

Respectfully,

A life long resident of New York State 

#IVAPEIVOTE