My name is Marie Workman. I'm a heart patient, who suffers from lung disease, due to long term smoking combustible cigarettes. We are writing to you, in regards to the proposed Flavor Ban, that was filed. Baning flavors will do no good, for anybody. If anything that will just make things more dangerous. Right now, E- liquids are regulated by The FDA, but that will all change. If the flavor ban goes through, people will make e liquids, in their home, and sell it on the black market. Those unregulated e liquids, will be your next problem. If they are mixed wrong, they can make someone very ill. As I mentioned before, I'm a heart patient. I don't vape, but I know plenty of people who have struggled with quiting smoking, without success; until they switched to vaping. I myself, have noticed a huge difference in the way cigarette smoke effects my health; vapor doesn't effect me. Do you know what it's like to be somewhere, in public, smell someone's cigarette smoke; suddenly you can't breathe, you have chest pain, and your heart is racing? I do. That's what cigarette smoke does to me, and millions of other people. I wish all the smokers, would switch to vaping, so I could breathe better! I'm begging you, please don't go through with this flavor ban! More people, will go back to smoking combustible cigarettes, and cigarettes are more accessible for minors, than e cigarettes. Minors can pick up cigarette butts, and smoke them ( like I did when I was a kid) and most vape shops check their customer's I.D, before they sell them anything vape related. Whomever is buying vape juice, for underage kids, should be punished, but please don't punish everyone; for their stupidity. According to a study, by public health England, electronic cigarettes are 95% safer than combustible cigarettes? Not only would the flavor ban, be bad for people who have successfully quit smoking combustible cigarettes, it would also have a negative impact on several businesses; that have dedicated their time and money to help people stop smoking cigarettes. I have watched many people suffer, from health issues, due to smoking. I have seen people develop cancer, from getting hooked on nicotine gum, and losenges. I feel like, more studies need to be done, on the effects of electronic cigarettes, and less assumptions should be made.
