I smoked a pack of 25s every day for 36 years. Throughout those years I tried to quit countless times with prescription medications, gum, patches, and even cold turkey. Nothing ever worked. I eventually gave in to the tobacco addiction and accepted that I would smoke until I died, probably from a smoking related illness.

Then one day over 8 years ago I decided to check out this new store that had opened. I was curious about this shop called The Vapour Trail. When I entered that shop I had no idea that I would leave an hour later an ex-smoker. I had purchased a starter kit and I did smoke a cigarette on the drive home. That was the last cigarette I ever smoked.

I quit smoking immediately and unexpectedly that day almost 9 years ago. I started with 18mg nicotine and I still vape at that strength which is entirely my choice. I’m comfortable there. I enjoy fruit flavours which I’m now forced to purchase out of province because of the restrictive laws in my own.

The smoker’s cough that I had disappeared about two weeks after switching to vape. I no longer get winded after mowing my lawn or shovelling my driveway. I didn’t gain any weight!

Despite all I’ve done though to improve my health I am treated like a criminal by my own government. This is their punishment for choosing to not use their approved smoking cessation methods. I quit smoking, I did what they had been begging me to do for decades. But I didn’t do it their way and for that they will continue to punish me.

I however will win this war. I already have. I quit smoking.