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My son had breathing problems like viral asthma and chronic bronchitis. He took many meds for the problems along with a nebulizer and inhaler. He asked his father and I to stop smoking. I had been smoking for 10 years and my husband for 17 years. We agreed. We started vaping and stopped smoking on 9-16-13. We started feeling better, breathing better, and lost the smoker's cough. Most importantly, our son's VERY LAST breathing treatment/medication/inhaler, was on 10-13-13. Vaping was the only change! It saved my son's life and ours too!
Mary Sue H.
Alabama
I smoked 2 1/2 packs a day for over 35 years. I tried to quit multiple times because my doctor told me that I had emphysema and that it was only a matter of time until I was dragging an oxygen tank around. Nothing worked until I found vaping. I managed to quit in one day. After 5 years of vaping my doctor said my lungs sound perfect and to keep doing what I was doing. It's been 9 years now and still not a single problem from vaping.
Steve G.
California
I smoked a pack a day of Marlboro Reds for 7 years. I tried everything to quit, including the patch, the pills, the gum, hypnotism, helplines, and acupuncture. None of it worked. My primary care physician recommended open system vaping. I permanently quit smoking within 24 hours.
I went on to start working in a retail vapor store as a regular employee. After two weeks I became a team leader, then store manager, and finally district manager over multiple locations. We now have over 7,500 people in our rewards program, and over the last 5.5 years, I have met most of them face to face. Their stories echo those you will find written here.
I quit vaping entirely nearly a year ago. It was FAR easier for me to quit vaping than it was to quit smoking cigarettes. I don't have cravings for nicotine anymore, and I still work a full-time job in a vapor store without even being tempted.
A flavor ban would mean an end to my livelihood, and an end for my ability to help people walk the same path to a smoke-free, nicotine-free, and even vape free existence if they so choose.
Jimmy W.
Florida
I sacrificed for this day 9/11/01...6 months later, I deployed to Afghanistan, I fought for the freedom to vape...losing it MEANS ALOT TO ME, after Afghanistan I smoked heavier...BUT VAPING MADE ME QUIT smoking 3 1/2 years ago.....THIS DAY IS WHAT MY THE WAR ON TERRORISM MEDAL IS FOR 100%. I FOUGHT FOR FREEDOM....FREEDOM TO CHOOSE A SAFER ALTERNATIVE NOT TO SMOKE CIGARETTES....THESE IDIOTS ARE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY A FREEDOM I FOUGHT FOR.....LOOK CLOSELY I'M THE ONE HOLDING THE CIGARETTE
Gregory B.
Texas
3 1/2 years ago I stopped smoking cigarettes and began vaping, after countless efforts to quit, the only success I had was using raspberry eliquid. After 20 years of smoking cigarettes I was finally able to stay off them completely and slowly step down my nicotine to where I vape 3mg and not nearly as much as I use to. My breathing has greatly improved, I don't wake up congested every morning. I don't get winded while I'm active. All around my health has improved. Taking away this option that has had such good successe for so many people that otherwise hasn't been able to quit is a disaster for our country and it's residents.
Jeremy F.
Michigan
I started smoking when I was young and had the most difficulty abstaining from my habit, I started to notice my breathing having a lot more of a wheeze and decided to try and vape and wow did it not only have me forgetting about cig's I dont even crave them, I cant stand the smell or the taste anymore so wheres the problem here. I have now been vaping for a solid 5 years and have nothing negative to share about my experience.
Konner S.
Minnesota
I'm not a pulmonologist but I do have my own insight. Our son is considered medically fragile. He has a trach, oxygen and is on a ventilator at night. He is the reason my husband had to stop smoking. He cannot be around cigarettes at all. We do vape in the house and in our vehicles. It hasn't affected him at all. In fact, he is 10 years past life expectancy. If vaping was so harmful, my son would be sick, in the hospital and definitely would not be going strong 10 years after the doctors said he wouldn't be with us anymore!
Jessica D.
Indiana
I was a four pack a day smoker. And have been a smoker for 45 years. I tried the patches am allergic to the adhesive, I tried the chantix pill and started getting up in my sleep and cooking and driving and had no memory of when I woke up. I friend of mine who is also a nurse recommended that I try vaping. Being a smoking asthmatic headed for COPD i tried it. The flavored vape juice helped me so much. I vape several times a day and down to two or three cigarettes a day. I no longer have to use my nebulizer or inhalers. No asthma meds and according to to scans my lungs are healing nicely. And with vaping I can reduce my nicotine intake. I started at 24 mg of nicotine now I am down to 10. I have been vaping for over five years and have never been hospitalized, not been treated for pneumonia or bronchitis in that time. I do not catch colds like I did when I smoked 4 packs a day. Vaping has given me back my ability to breathe. My doctor knows that I vape, he knows which products I use and agrees with my choice and is pleased with my progress.
Sandra P.
Kentucky
I smoked cigarettes for 30+ years and 5 years ago, I switched to vaping. My breathing was so terrible, I was unable to walk thru a grocery store. I had to use a scooter because I couldn't catch my breath if I walked more than 10 feet ! I was on Spiriva, Albuterol and had to go to the Ready Care for breathing treatments monthly. And STILL I smoked. Then my son in law introduced me to vaping. He took me into a vape shop and I have not touched a cigarette since. I am now on ZERO medications, never need a breathing treatment and have never felt better in my life. My daughters and I were in a grocery store not too long ago and they asked me "Mom, why are you walking so fast ?" Because I can my loves, because I can.
Concerning flavors: I have vaped the same juice from the same shop since day one. I am a Texas resident currently in Michigan due to my daughter's illness. While I am here, I have been ordering it online and if there is a flavor ban, it will include the one and only juice that saved my life. So as I sit here with my daughter as she has her second round of chemotherapy for stage 4 non-small cel carcinoma, (lung cancer) I am scared to death of what will happen if I do not have access to the one thing that saved me 5 years ago. The menthol tobacco flavored juice that allowed me to be here for her today. #VapingSavesLives #VapingSavedMyLife #ivapeivote
Sandra H.
Michigan
I smoked 1.5 packs of cigarettes a day for 35 years. I bought an ecig 8 years ago, started with tobacco flavors, but still could not stop smoking. I tried a bakery flavor and never smoked again. I quit, my husband, mother-in-law and two nephews quit too. Vaping flavors saved our lives.
Christine B.
Texas
I started smoking at 13 years old. It snowballed into 2 packs a day of Camel Wides by the time I was a senior in High School. When i was 28 years old I bought an ecig with a banana and chocolate flavor. I put down a 2 pack a day habit with one purchase of an ecig. 15 years of smoking done with flavors. I have been a vapor for going on 9 years. I opened my first Vape Shop over 4 years ago. My employees and I have converted 100's of people off combustible tobacco. This is due to Flavors.
Chad J.
Kentucky
I never smoked cigarettes. My rheumatologist suggested vaping 3mg of nicotine to help with my migraines. I went from having daily migraines that could last months at a time to maybe 2-3 in a year.
Sami L.
New Jersey
I was up to three packs a day of Marlboro reds. I'd quit using Chantix(most horrible period of my life. Itâs toxic!) and started smoking after a period. I found vaping and picked peanut butter cup. That flavor got me off of cigarettes in a matter of a week and I was just trying to supplement. I've been smoke free for over 6 years not and still Vape flavored e-liquids to this day. I've never felt healthier and I outpace my kids waking up hills.
John B.
Missouri
I smoked cigarettes for 35 years. I tried everything to quit. Patches didn't work and burned my skin. Gum didn't work and irritated the inside of my mouth. Lozenges same thing as the gum. Cold Turkey didn't work and only caused me to eat excessive amounts of food. I decided to give vaping a chance and after about a week of vaping I quit smoking. Sour watermelon was the flavor that got me off of combustible tobacco. I have been vaping a little over a year now and I feel better and can actually take a deep breath without it hurting or making me cough. I was able to change my life with vaping and I hope more people do a well.
Kris P.
Texas
I started smoking around 11. A buddy of mine was always able to sneak cigs from his mom, smoked a cig with the other cool kids about once a week or so, which turned into a full blown habit by the time I was 16. Never needed a fake id, a lady at the local gas station would sell it to me because I had convinced her I was 19.
5 years later, smoking about a pack a day, i had to drop out of my band at the start of our tour, due to lung and vocal issues. Anyone who knows me well, will know that music is my life, that tour was the culmination of years of work and practice. But because of smoking (and a couple other habits I'm sure), i was no longer able to finish a set.
So i had to step down and watch my friends end up signed. That what when I decided to quit. About 2 years of failure later, i found vaping, and never looked back. (In case anyone was wondering, this is the reason I no longer play music)
I've had the pleasure of working in the industry shortly in a friends shop, and now I work at a manufacturer. Flavor bans would put me on the streets again, and im 100% sure I'll be back to cigs.
I vape Cinnamon Sugar cookies. I vape, I vote.
Chris F.
Nevada
I'm nearly 65 and smoked a couple packs per day since I was 15. My wife and daughter started vaping last year. On Jan 19th I went to a local vape shop and traded my last pack of cigarettes for a vape device. I got some Kona liquid and never smoked another cigarette. Within a week or so I noticed the wheezing stopped, no more coughing, sinus issues disappeared, energy level increased and was able to drop a few pound. Like many, I tried all the gimmicks to quit with no success. I now enjoy Unicorn Milk and several other fruit flavors. I have my health and life back thanks to the vape shop I visited in Jan. This is my story to share with everyone.
Steve T.
Florida
I smoked for 22 years and was PRESSURED by a customer of mine who owned a vape shop. She told me come down and I will give you one of my old devices. She let me sample a few flavors and I decides on NERDS and STRAWBERRY BLUEBERRY ICE. I smoked menthol cigarettes, far cry from what I was used to. I quit DAY ONE. I knew after a few pulls, I would never go back. I wish that ALL smokers get to have the feeling like I did. I now have a legitimate eliquid company created on an ISO lab which supports my family. This is an uncalled for ban and prohibition should no take my hard earned business away. #IVAPEIVOTE
Ryan S.
Pennsylvania
I started smoking cigarettes at 12 years old. With vaping I was finally able to stop at 29 years old. I was smoking 2 packs a day. If it wasn't for a particular Coconut Cream flavor, I never would have stopped smoking. My breathing and my overall health has improved dramatically since doing so.
Tracie S.
Florida
I smoked a pack a day for pretty much 30 years. I am 50 years old. I have been vaping for a year and a half. I use a nord smok. I have tried the flavors but went with Juul mint flavored juice. I DON'T have the constant cough I had when I smoked and can breathe better. I feel better too. I really have no desire to go back to cigarettes. Not to mention the cost of vaping is so much cheaper.
Monica S.
California
I smoked for over 35+ years, 2 packs a day. I watched my mother die from lung cancer (smoking related) in 99'...she was 54! One would think watching someone suffer like this would be enough to quit. I tried every single method available to no avail until I discovered Vapor products 7 years ago. To my surprise, IT FREAKING WORKED!!! From that day...I've not had any respiratory or bronchial issues or visited a doctor.
Dennisa M.
Texas
I started smoking at 14, at that age it was only when I could get a cigarette from someone. By 18 I was at a pack a day habit, during that time any physical exercise was too labor intensive to me and I became lazy and was diagnosed as having asthma. When I met my current partner 3 years ago I decided to quit smoking, I did this by switching to vaping. I now have not touched a cigarette since, and I now enjoy going on bike rides, going to the park, and going on hikes. Vaping has helped me and I'm happier now not being concerned about getting cancer or dying from tobacco use. Vaping and my success also led my mother who has smoked for 20+ years to cut back on smoking and I see her quitting in the near future as well.
Jeffery M.
Colorado
I started smoking at 12 years old and smoked for 17 years. The loss of my uncle due to lung cancer caused by years of smoking, coupled with not wanting my children to see me in that state, furthered my desire to quit. But even then, I struggled. The only thing that allowed me to quit combustible cigarettes was berry-flavored vaping products.
A flavor ban would not only jeopardize my livelihood but the livelihood of the families of people who are employed through businesses owned and managed by my partner and myself. I do not know the number of people whom I have helped or influenced to transition off of cigarettes. This is not something that is easily measured, but I do know that every single one of their lives has been made better because of it.
Caty T.
Idaho
I smoked for the very first time when I was just 5 years old and then off and on til I was about 11 and then I smoked a pack-pack and a half a day til I was 34. I couldn't breathe when I walked so it was really hard to keep up with my kids and so It was finally time to make a change and vaping was the only thing that helped me! I started with fruit flavored ejuice and within a month I had quit smoking! I felt better almost immediately and now that I have a grandbaby I have no issues keeping up with her! It's now been 5 years smoke free!
Jennifer L.
Illinois
I am 45 years old, I vape and I vote, I smoked for almost 30 years and quit with a creme brulee and coffee flavored vape. I feel and breathe much better than before, no more smokers cough, no more allergy medicine and sinus problems, this is saving my life and letting my lungs heal. As I lower the nicotine levels I have also noticed that the withdrawal from the pure nicotine is not nearly as bad as tobacco. It bothers me that nicotine products have been demonized when it by itself is no worse than caffeine and its the tobacco industry that's making sure everyone stays addicted to thier products, not the vapor industry which has products available with 0 nicotine in them. I will never go back to tobacco or smoking. I will suffer and do without before I go back to that slow suicide.
Jason B.
Virginia
Growing up I've always hung out with the "cooler" older group. At the time, smoking was cool as well and found myself taking cigarette butts every morning from my mothers ash tray at the age of 13. Eventually, my friends became of legal age to buy cigarettes leaving it very accessible to me. My addiction did not get serious until the age of 15 where I would smoke a pack and a half a day until the age of 22. I tried for years until I discovered vape, these were fun times where you would hang out in a vape shop, share your story on how you're a smoker and often hear someone else's story about how they smoked for years and made the transition to vape. At the time, I was able to slowly transition discovering the many flavors offered from menthol, candy, fruit, dessert flavors. Vape was merely not enough as my addiction for cigarettes was still there. It wasn't until I found a mountain dew flavor that got me completely off smoking cigarettes. I finally quit smoking cigarettes at the age of 26 in 2015 and have never been tempted or felt the need to pick up a cigarette again. I can say in confidence that my health has improved and while I know it's not good to supplement one addiction with another, I had no intention of completely quitting. To non-vaper points, is vaping healthy? Of course it's not but it is an healthier alternative to than pumping over 1000+ unknown chemicals for a product that is known for getting you and others around you very sick down the road. Vaping is not only a cleaner alternative but it's a lifestyle that everyone has grown to live and stand by. There are many stories such as my own and would hate to see these stories go in vain. Having said, I strongly oppose the restriction or ban on e-cigarettes as it will cause even more of an "epidemic" for public health than what the current issue is at hand. Adults have the right to flavors just as anyone else has the right to drinking flavored vodka or coffee.
I personally am fine with the taxes of vape products but don't include us as a tobacco product.
Andrew T.
California
I work in a vape shop and make our juice fresh for our customers. Been vaping for 6 years. Never had Respiratory problems since I been vaping.
My customers have never had respiratory problems as matter of fact they get better after they get off the cigarettes. I am for regulation and believe JUUL is a high nicotine product designed to attract young people to vape for the buzz it gives them. They tell me that. Leave the flavor issue alone and ban ecigs from tobacco companies and leave the vaping industry to the people who started it and know what they are doing. 0 deaths from nicotine vaping is the key...
62 years old and have older customers who love what we do.
Dont spoil it...
Edward R.
Texas
Hi just want to let you know that I stopped smoking cigarettes 6 years ago when my friends parents realized it helped both of them put down cigarettes ..They opened a vape shop and me and several people have quit smoling cigarettes using flavored e juice...I like so many others feel and breath so much better I can walk long distance and run something I couldn't do smoking...I have also witnessed people with asthma get better..We as adults don't want to smoke menthol or tobacco flavored e liquids if we wanted that taste we would just smoke cigarettes.....So please dont take are flavors.. Both my parents died from COPD I dont want to be next ...my dr.said my last xray of lungs was good....
Rae T.
Kentucky
I smoked for 39 years the doctor told me I have to prepare my family for me not to be around this Earth cuz smoking was killing me that's when my daughter told me about vaping I started vaping 6 years ago the doctors tell me my lungs are better than they have been in a long time I have COPD and emphysema severe and now I no longer have a smoker's cough and I feel a lot better I was doing a nebulizer machine every 3 hours now I'm doing it maybe twice a day
Ronald R.
Missouri
Ever since i remember i grew up with crippling anxiety. I had panic attacks every single day three to four times a day. I then began to vape thinking it would help me. Vaping shows me that i can breathe in and out and concentrate on that while have a panic attack and it absolutely right away calms me down. This is the only thing that will help me calm down and focus. Not even medicine .
Rachel R.
Ohio
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