I’m a 40 year old male and I started smoking cigarettes when I was 14 years old. Up until 7 months ago, I was a pack to a pack and a half a day smoker. I spent 26 years of my life poisoning myself with tobacco products. During my time as a smoker, I developed high blood pressure. Even though I have always been active with lifting weights, running, etc., I developed HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. I suffered other side affects too, such as; wheezing, shortness of breath, anxiety, etc. Throughout my time as a smoker, I tried several methods to quit. I tried anti depressants, the patch, gum, etc. Non of them ever worked for me and I SERIOUSLY wanted them to work and SERIOUSLY wanted to quit. Each method I tried had me quitting for a couple weeks to a couple months and then I’d be back to smoking again. The worst of it was the anti depressants. Not only did I go back to smoking but also had a new addiction I had to get rid of, which was pure hell! Seven months ago, I discovered electronic cigarettes and the vaping community and I’ve never looked back. FINALLY I had my hands on something that really made me quit smoking successfully. Once I got my device, I dropped tobacco products that day and haven’t looked back. I don’t miss it (like I did using other methods) and I see myself never going back as long as I have vaping. Since quitting smoking, I no longer have high blood pressure. I am much more active and in shape. I have my senses of smell and taste back. I can breathe more freely. My teeth and gums are more healthy. I no longer stink. The list goes on. The quality of my life has jumped ten-fold. I would also like to add to my story that I have lost several family members to smoking related illnesses. My grandmother died of cancer caused by smoking cigarettes and my father inlaw died of lung cancer. There are others as well. E-cigarettes and vaping have changed my life for the better. It is my hope that it’s something that will not be taken away, or taxed to the point that I cannot afford to do it. Please don’t take away my right to do something good for myself.