CNN just put out an article citing a report put out by Virginia Commonwealth University. The article’s claim is that e-cigarettes do not put out any of the nicotine they claim to and are generally ineffective as both a way to quit smoking, and a substitution to it. “They are as effective at nicotine delivery as puffing on an unlit cigarette,” said Dr. Thomas Eissenberg, at the school’s Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies.

The first thing that I think about any study conducted in Virginia is that Virginia is the third-largest tobacco producing state in the United States. They output 1.3B worth of Tobacco every year. It’s not that I think the study is bunk, I just think that there are inherent pressures exerted by a place where Tobacco is part of the lifeblood of the economy.

The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute, and they seem to be pretty reputable, but they’re just fronting the money, not doing the research. The school was run, until July 1st 2009, by Dr. Eugene Trani, a long time advocate of the tobacco industry. He’s such an advocate that he invited the CEO of Phillip Morris to speak at the school’s graduation ceremony in 2003. However, Phillip Morris is a big company, they do more than just cigarettes, and like them or not they are in fact legal, and do require business savvy to be in them, or any business, and have it be successful.

The real conflict of interest happened in February of 2000 when Eugene Trani was appointed to the Universal Corporations board of Directors. You can see in this document under “Corporate Affairs” where they welcome him. The Universal Corporation owns none other than Universal Leaf Tobacco, described on their website as the “world’s leading leaf tobacco merchant and processor.” Trani owned 1100 shares of the company at one time.

There is some likelihood that this study was conducted at a University during a time where the President of the University was a board member of a tobacco company. That sounds like a conflict of interest to me. I’m disappointed in CNN.

What do you think? Are E-Cigarettes just smoke and mirrors? Or does the tobacco friendly school have a legitimate study on their hands? Let me know in the comments.

Sources:

1. http://google.brand.edgar-online.com/EFX_dll/EDGARpro.dll?FetchFilingHTML1?SessionID=Zo_NWQvURc0QRAh&ID=5356204
2. http://www.universalcorp.com/
3. http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/bfe85a00/pdf
4. http://www.virginiaplaces.org/agriculture/tobaccogrow.html
5. http://www.prwatch.org/node/6434

Many airlines are now adding e-cigs to their list of prohibited inflight items. This may come as a response to passengers that were not courteous with their vaporizing or because the fake cigarettes may be interpreted as real cigarettes and inspire other passengers to light up. Regardless, it’s now more important than ever to call ahead and ask your airlines policy. You don’t want to be expecting a fix at 35,000 feet only to discover that you’re not allowed to partake. As of February 2010 the following airlines have policies against e cigarettes:

• Continental: “The use of electronic, simulated smoking materials (cigarettes, pipes, cigars) is prohibited on Continental Airlines”
• American: “Devices that are not allowed to be activated at any time are those, including e-cigarettes….”
• Southwest: People report seeing ecigarettes are prohibited in the onboard literature
• Air Canada: “Electronic cigarettes (or ‘e-cigarettes’), provided they remain stowed and unused in your carry-on baggage.”

Any major airlines I’ve missed? Feel free to let me know in the comments.

The White Cloud E-cigs are a different kind of electronic cigarette from the other brands that just clone each other. They took the classic design and fundamentally changed it so as to provide the best performance in terms of reliability and experience.

The White Cloud Cirrus Cigarette is their premiere offering. This package includes two long life batteries, a USB battery charger, and 4 electronic cigarette cartridges. The White Cloud cartridges are different than other brands because they do not contain solely e-cigarette liquid. Instead, they contain an atomizer inside each and every cartridge. This fundamental difference allows for a long and maintenance free life. With other brands of electronic cigarettes you’ll need to clean or repair the atomizer, but with White Cloud, you get a brand new atomizer with each cartridge your screw into the cigarette.

The White Cloud brand offers a number of flavors in various nicotine strenghts.

The flavors include: Regule, Menthol, Vanilla, Chocolate, Espresso, Peach, Whiskey, Apple, Banana, and Clove. The strengths range from Extra Strength, Full Strength, Light, Ultra Light and Nicotine Free.

There are many options for e-cigs now a days, but White Cloud has differentiated themselves with their service. They offer, for 29.95 2 year warranty. As long as you don’t do anything sketchy like try to modify or refill your e-cigarette, they’ll replace any part of it that malfunctions or breaks in that two year period Additionally, you can exchange the battery after a year.

The White Cloud E-Cigs are a great competitor to the established brands out there now, and if you’re not considering them, you’re missing out on a great product.

As much as I loathe to admit it, it seems that it is completely impossible to escape the reach of Jersey Shore. If you’re at all familiar with the personalities on MTV’s popular “reality” TV show, you know that they are in your face and extreme. However, it seems like at least some of them are interested in self improvement. JWOWW, the female foil to the infamous “Snookie” has apparently quit smoking according to Perez Hilton.

This reviewer has never heard of SmokeSticks, or the Smoke Sticks brand, but they aren’t even linked in the article on Perez Hilton, so they’re probably not that big a play in the e-cig arena. However, perhaps with the endorsement of JWOWW and her giant JWOWW’s, they’ll be a name to watch out for.

Also, interesting to note, is that Perez Hilton claims she quit smoking. She didn’t quit smoking, she switched to e-cigarettes. It’s kind of a false fact, but that’s the kind of journalism you can expect from a gossipy website I suppose. Has anyone ever heard of these SmokeStick e-cigs? Are they as good as Blu Cigs?

Thousands of Americans struggle daily when they attempt to quit smoking cigarettes. Many have tried nicotine products to suppress the cravings and have still failed. This is often attributed to the fact that they are used to the act of smoking. Between the oral fixation and the social connection between people smoking together, many fail when they try giving these things up as they attempt to ease back on the nicotine. A new product called has been introduced that will help with cravings like these. The electronic cigarette takes the smoke out of the equation, while still providing the smoker with the same feeling of smoking. Let’s take a look at how anyone looking to quit smoking can benefit from this new technology.

The most obvious problems with cigarette consumption is the health and cosmetic downsides of the addiction. Smoking can lead to respiratory problems that are unrelated to the nicotine that is providing you with the buzz. When you look at the fact that the electronic cigarette removes all smoke from the equation, and simply provides you with a fix of nicotine vapor it becomes apparent how beneficial this can be. In addition to the health benefits, since no smoke is involved, the electronic cigarette will not leave your clothes smelling like smoke, nor stain your teeth. These cosmetic benefits can help increase self esteem and make you feel great.

Another one of the largest problems that smokers face is the ever rising price of a pack of cigarettes. Between the actual price of the product, and the addition of taxes to the equation, many Americans are considering giving up the habit just to save money. Electronic cigarettes drastically reduces the cost per smoke because they can be refilled and are not taxed nearly as heavily. Regardless of if you are considering the countless health benefits of smoking cessation, this new option can save you a lot of money in the long run.

When you factor in the money savings, the health benefits and the cosmetic advantages over smoking a traditional cigarette, it becomes clear why hundreds of Americans are trying the electronic cigarette on a daily basis. If you are looking to quit, or just reduce the harmful side effects of the addiction, an electronic cigarette is something that you should seriously consider investing in.

Manufacturer: Blu E-Cigarettes
Customer Rating:
Sale Price: $59.95
Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours
Free Shipping Available

Manufacturer: Green Smoke
Customer Rating:
Sale Price: $109.00
Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours
Free Shipping NOT Available

If you’re into the electronic cigarette, then you know that there are two main brands. The Green Smoke and the Blu Cigs. While, at first glance, they may seem like the same exact brands, but they really are pretty different. If you are a serious smoker, then you need to read this article.  The little differences between these two brands will make or break your electronic cigarette smoking experience.

First, the Green Smoke has many more flavors available than Blu Cigs. Blu Cigs has four different flavors without including the traditional tobacco flavor. Green Smoke has six different flavors not including a different type of tobacco.

Second, as you know electric cigarettes are powered by batteries, but the type of batteries do matter. With regular cigarettes if you run out of a cigarette you can just light another one up, but if you run out of batteries on an electric cigarette, that could potentially mess your day up pretty bad. Now, it’s not a national emergency or anything, but, you would probably want your electronic cigarette to last throughout the day.

The good thing is that these cigarettes can last about six or seven hours on one charge, and when you buy one they come with a wall charger and a usb charger. But, just in case you will be somewhere without a charger for awhile, the Green Smoke electronic cigarette does come with two battery sizes, a long one and a short one too.

Electronic cigarettes are a godsend if you are a smoker, whether or not you are trying to quit. They allow you to smoke anywhere and every where you want. In different flavors, with or without the smoking vapor. If you like to smoke, or are just trying to quit. Electronic cigarettes are for you.

People often ask, what’s not good enough about what I smoke right now? Why would I want to make the jump to a fake cigarette? These are all valid questions, and they all have valid answers.

First, electronic cigarettes are not “Fake” cigarettes. They actually are a more “pure” form of smoking. Instead of inhaling all the smoke, carbon monoxide, and carcinogens, you get a vaporized form of nicotine. Doctors agree, it’s not nicotine that is dangerous, in fact, nicotine is very comparable to caffeine. Doctors know that it’s the smoke and carcinogens in cigarettes that cause health problems.

Depending on which e-cigarette you get, and your smoking style, electronic cigarettes may prove to be more cost effective. For example, Blu cigarettes sells 5 cartridges for $5. This is equivalent to about a pack and a half of traditional cigarettes. If you factor in that you get to select the nicotine level (The cigarettes with lower nicotine are more expensive at the store) and any flavor you might like, this is a great value.

E Cigs often have a reputation of being “not as good” of a smoking experience. This actually couldn’t be farther from the truth. The E-cigarette vapor is quite comparable to smoke, and because vapor is just as, if not more, effective at delivering nicotine, the same effects are felt as classic cigarettes. In their infancy, many people complained that e-cigs often ran out of battery. Today, all the ecigarettes utilize rechargeable high capacity lithium polymer batteries for extended use, and portable chargers to insure that your e-cigarette is always ready when you are.

Manufacturer: Blu E-Cigarettes
Customer Rating:
Sale Price: $59.95
Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours
Free Shipping Available

Background Information:

Blu Cigs are a relatively new company doing business out of North Carolina.  Don’t let this company appeal to your skepticism because they are new.  They are the Electric Cigarette leaders in the United States.  In my opinion, it is there unique appeal , and economic advantages that has put them as the premiere E-cigarette.   Unfortunately, Blu Cigs only ships within the United States.   They are so sought after that they have a tough time keeping the shelves stocked. You can back order  your order for just $1.  They will not charge your credit card until your product is shipped.

Product Information:

Blu Cigs come packaged in what is called a Blu Pack.  The Blu pack is a battery charger the same size as a regular cigarette box.  This is awesome, since it permits the owner to charge their electronic cigarette when electrical outlets, and USB Ports are not around.  The Blu electric cig starter sets still come with a USB and AC Adapter as well.  Once you try the Blu pack its difficult to ever be happy with any other e cig product.  Its such a wonderful invention, its difficult to have anything less. This company knows how to spoil its customers.  Blu E Cig come in very catchy flavors including Magnificent Menthol, Java Jolt, Vivid Vanilla and Cherry Crush, and of course the Traditional Tobacco Flavor.  Right now Blu Electric Cigarette is thought to be the most inexpensive Electronic Cigarette by far.  I would say Blu offers the most value for your dollar!  For just $59.95 you get all the stuff you will need to enjoy the best out there in the world of electronic cigarettes.

Warranty Information:

Free shipping, 30 day money back guarantee, and a one year warranty.