As someone that had smoked analog (conventional) cigarettes for eight years, I truly feel like vaping has saved my life. I initially started smoking Djarum blacks (cloves) until they were banned by the FDA in 2009. The ban was supposed to stop kids from being lured into smoking by flavored cigarettes. As an adult consumer, I was less than impressed. After the ban, I switched to a normal cigarette. Probably not the intended result of the ban, but something that was inevitable for everyone that enjoyed smoking. And I did. I really did enjoy a cigarette. What I didn’t enjoy were the negative health effects. I didn’t like that I couldn’t run as far or breathe as deeply as I felt that I should have. I also didn’t like that other people could smell the smoke on me. Around that time, Lorillard was fresh on the scene with their new electronic cigarette, Blu. It was heavily marketed as a cigarette without the hideous health effects and bonus: You could smoke it anywhere. Perfect! This was exactly what I was looking for. I didn’t have to smoke regular cigarettes anymore AND they came in flavors. As a former clove smoker, that was huge. I missed FLAVORS. Unfortunately, the Blu performed terribly, the flavor profiles were horrible and I was back to analogs. Then I discovered e-juice. My world exploded. Flavors that I could mix and meld. Flavors that I could choose. A whole array of colors, textures (yes, e-juice have =texture=), profiles, and it was FAR less expensive than my pack a day habit. I fell in love. That was six months ago, and I haven’t smoked a single nasty analog cigarette since. I no longer have the threat of cancer, COPD, or chronic bronchitis looming over me. Every cigarette felt like another nail in the coffin. My own personal slow suicide. I can breathe again. I can taste again. It truly is amazing. I don’t have to read science journals to know that it’s healthier when I can =feel= it. I feel alive. I have more energy. I can enjoy my life the way I want it without feeling winded or drained. Then I heard about the proposed FDA bans and I could see it all slowly fall apart. I can agree with not selling to minors. It’s nicotine based. It should be restricted as such. What I can’t agree with is the removal of choice. I don’t want to be restricted to just tobacco or menthol flavors. Frankly, neither of those are even on my radar anymore. I don’t want to be restricted to pre-filled cartomizers from the three major tobacco powerhouses. I love my independent juice makers and my local brick and mortar stores. Some of the proposed regulations will absolutely destroy the small companies. I agree that there should be guidelines to make sure that everything is safe for consumption, but it really should end there.