If you had told me 10 years ago, when I started working in this industry, that the fight to keep these options available to adult consumers that depend on them would be this hard, I never would have believed you. But here I sit in 2023, reading Brian King’s latest article, wondering how did we get here? 

A lot of people believe that consumers and small vape shop owners here in the US are anti-regulation. This just isn’t true. What we want is fair regulation, clear guidance, and a small business pathway. 

These latest statements gives me little hope that the FDA will ever consider any of these options, let alone even acknowledge the adult smokers that have switched to vaping.

As expected, King pats himself on the back for his menthol cigarette and flavored cigar ban proposal, the ridiculous idea that low nicotine cigarettes will save smokers’ lives and the “award winning tobacco education campaigns” like The Real Cost. 

He then went on to claim that science is leading the way on FDA decision making stating, “Science is central to informing tobacco regulatory decision making. As a scientist by training, I’m particularly attuned to the vital importance of ensuring we gather and use the best scientific evidence available, as well as sharing our findings and collaborating with the scientific community to collectively advance health equity.”

To any company that submitted a PMTA, we know all too well that this statement is laughable and honestly insulting.

But the most insulting part of this statement from King is the complete lack of acknowledgement for the adult smokers that have switched to vaping. Almost as if they don’t care about us at all. 

King has time and time again denied consumers and the small vapor industry an open forum to address concerns and ask questions. Yet he has had these kinds of discussions with groups that are against vaping, like the truth initiative’s Robin Koval. Leaving us feeling like our voices will never be heard.

We will never stop fighting for our right to harm reduction and we sincerely hope 2023 brings us clarity and open communication before more damage is done to this already struggling industry.