Stand Up for Vaping: Another Attack on Harm Reduction

Recent calls for the resignation of Canada's Minister of Addictions and Mental Health, Ya'ara Saks, by anti-tobacco groups have sent shockwaves through the vaping community. These calls come on the heels of a youth vaping consultation, and while youth vaping is a serious concern that needs to be addressed, but completely removing the single most proven method of smoking cessation ignores the vital role vaping plays in harm reduction for adult smokers.

Let's be clear: no one wants kids vaping. We in the vaping community are committed to responsible sales and marketing practices. We ID everyone, we support strict penalties for retailers who sell to minors, and we actively discourage underage vaping. 

This feels like a blatant attempt to conflate the separate issues of youth vaping and adult smoking cessation. It’s a classic “throw the baby out with the bathwater” scenario. Vaping has provided millions of adults with a less harmful alternative to combustible cigarettes, a pathway away from deadly addiction. To jeopardize this lifeline due to concerns about youth vaping is short-sighted and frankly, dangerous.

Results of Quebec's Flavour Ban

Quebec has already banned flavours, producing an almost comically accurate representation of what the industry warned would happen should it come to that. Shop owners are unhappy, vapers are unhappy, and an illicit market pops up to fill the void. 

The focus should be on enforcing existing regulations, educating youth on the risks of vaping, and supporting responsible businesses who are already complying with the law. We need targeted solutions, not sweeping condemnations that threaten the entire industry and the countless adults who rely on vaping to stay off cigarettes.

We urge everyone who believes in the potential of vaping as a harm reduction tool to speak up. Contact your elected officials, share this post, and let your voice be heard. We need to defend vaping, not just for our jobs, but for the millions who depend on it for a healthier future.

Here's what you can do:

Stay informed: Keep up-to-date on the latest developments in this issue. 

Contact your MP: Let them know how important vaping is to you and express your concerns about Ya'aras comments. 

Support responsible vaping organizations: Many groups like the CVA and Rights4Vapers advocate for sensible vaping regulations and harm reduction. Get involved and support their efforts. 

Let's stand together and protect vaping as a harm reduction tool. The future of harm reduction, and the health of millions, may depend on it.