

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

General Comment:To whom it may concern,

I am writing to request an extension of the comment period for the Food and Drug Administration's 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. 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 proposed for regulation under the Rule. I want to provide my thoughts and comments on many of the issues, but this take time. I have already spent much time researching the issue, so I personally feel safe using these products as an alternative to cigarettes. It is not unreasonable to allow the public an additional six months to comment. This is our only opportunity, as consumers, to provide our feedback. 

I feel very strongly about e-cigarettes as an alternative to combustible cigarettes. I was a smoker for 40 years. Three years ago I told my doctor I had decided to quit. We tried nicotine patches, prescription Wellbutrin, Chantix, nicotine inhales and other methods. Nothing worked. The second day after I purchased and tried an e-cigarette, I quit smoking regular cigarettes and have not smoked since. That was three years ago. There are literally thousands of others with the same story.

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.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

