

Comment Info: =================

General Comment:Dear Mr. Zeller:

I am writing as an individual consumer to request an extension of the comment period for the Food and Drug Administration's ("FDA") Proposed Rule Deeming Tobacco Products to be Subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the Family Smoking and Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (the "Proposed Rule") published at 79 Fed. Reg. 23,142 and Federal Register No. 2014-09491. On behalf of myself, I am requesting that the comment period for the Proposed Rule be extended by the FDA for an additional 105 days, from its current 75-day period, to 180 days.

The Proposed Rule raises a number of significant issues and questions that are important and relevant to me, as a consumer of products that are proposed for regulation under the Proposed Rule. The Proposed Rule asks about a hundred different questions I might want to respond to. I want to provide my thoughts and comments on many of these issues, but my time to devote to researching and providing thoughtful comments on these important questions is limited. I have already spent many hours researching and dissecting these issues, but they take time. I know that the FDA took many years to even come up with the Proposed Rule, so I do not think it is at all unreasonable to allow the public a mere six months to comment on it. This is our only opportunity, as consumers, to provide our feedback. 

I feel very strongly about e-cigarettes as an alternative to combustible cigarettes. Quite simply, I firmly believe that they saved my life. I wish to provide you with my personal story, as well as science- and evidence-based responses to your questions so that you can take my comment into account. I realize that the FDA has the authority under 21 CFR 10.40 to extend this time frame and that the FDA has exercised this authority on numerous occasions in the past. I would therefore ask that you do so here, so that all stakeholders have the opportunity to provide their comments on this proposed regulation.

I began vaping at the age of 29 after 14 years of smoking cigarettes.  I picked it up without much hope, as I had tried smoking cessations in the past with nicotine gum, and had no success with it.  The gum often made me feel sick, even though I got a rather low dosage for my habit (I was over a pack a day smoker).  It also lacked the action that I was accustomed to, the hand to mouth action involved with smoking.  

However, when I tried vaping I didn't feel the same way.  I was able to find a suitable nicotine level, so I didn't feel sick from it.  I began with a simple tobacco flavor, however after a week I tried a Caramel flavor.  After vaping caramel for a few days I no longer wanted the taste of a cigarette.  Now that I vape various cinnamon and fruit flavors the idea of a tobacco flavor sickens me, cigarette or vape, it's just not appealing.  

I can now run with my dogs, go up and down stairs, and engage in physical activities that would have previously left me gasping for air.  I believe in vaping because of my own experience and the results that I can feel and see everyday.  I have been back for a check up after not smoking for a year and my doctor noticed the positive improvements as well.  He had absolutely nothing bad to say about vaping and praised me for making the switch.  

I understand your desire for regulation.  However I ask that you do it in a responsible manner that will not hurt the vaping industry or its consumers.  We need this.  Not only as consumers, but as a society.  Kids need their mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles and grandparents.  If vaping had been around 20 years ago I believe my grandfather would still be here today. 

I appreciate your consideration of my request and am happy to discuss this issue with you further.
