I am 34 years old, I smoked for 20 years, and I started using ecigs one year ago. Yes- that math is correct. I started smoking at 13. Over the past ten years, I tried Wellbutrin, Chantix, patches, lozenges, gum, and quitting cold turkey. None of those stuck for more than two or three months. I am not one of those demographics that people think make up the majority of smokers (erroneously). I am a middle class professional woman, and a doctoral candidate. There are more of us than most would think- we hide and lie and carry a ton of breath mints and body spray because we have been shamed into that. My job puts me in the public eye, so I have been known to hide behind grocery store dumpsters (behind the store itself) to grab a quick smoke. In the 12 months since I have started ecigs, I have not had a single urge to smoke. I tried once about six months ago out of curiosity and felt horrible: stomach ache, lethargic, headache- the works. I can smell smoke from a mile away now, although I would never make anyone feel ashamed to smoke. I haven’t been sick but once in the last year, I have had more energy, I have not had the smell of cigarettes all over me, and my kids have not smelled like smoke or had to deal with the other effects of my addiction. I am a strict vegetarian and take care of myself in every other way, but smoking – or vaping, God willing- will never be something I can give up. I have come to accept that. Being prone to addiction is genetic. Those who believe that everyone has a choice are under-educated on the issue. If anyone were to take vaping away, they would be signing my Death Certificate because I would not hesitate to go back to smoking. Vaping- as it is now- gives me more disposable income to contribute to my local economy, as well. Cigarettes cost $9 per pack where I live- $9 per day for me. Vaping costs me about $2 per day. My final point is that of marketability to those who do not currently smoke- both young and old. As someone who started smoking as a child, I can honestly say that vaping has nothing on cigarettes. Charging batteries, purchasing atomizers and e liquid, and maintaining all of the pieces would have been over my head- lighting up is much easier. The realistic but unpopular answer, though, would really be: oh well. If ecigs and flavored e liquid appeal to people, well, at least it won’t kill them as cigarettes would. We, as a society, are against the look of smoking now, whether it is harmful or not. However, we are perfectly fine with Happy Meals, Grape flavored UV Vodka, and margarita juice boxes. Our societal priorities are a little skewed, in my opinion. I have seen what obesity and alcoholism does to families. It is a million times worse than what nicotine suspended in a PG vapor could ever do. I very passionately hope that this is never taken away from me- I honestly believe that it is a life or death situation. I know that I am not alone in this belief. I also believe that many on the other side think they are doing the right thing. Please: read some unbiased, controlled research on addiction, e cigarettes, and smoking. As an academic, I can’t think of anything that would be more persuasive.