Local Stores Selling Out, FDA Warning Of Dangers
Jump to full article: KMGH ABC Denver's 7, 2009-03-19
Author: Jaclyn Allen, 7NEWS Reporter
Intro: "I don't even want to smoke now," Robinson said, "and I haven't smoked a cigarette in five months."
Not a traditional cigarette anyway.
Robinson has joined an exploding group of ex-smokers turning to electronic cigarettes.
After Boulder-based Smoker Friendly stores started selling the so called "e-cigs" last month, they have been flying off the shelves.
"All of our stores that have received the product have sold out of it at least two or three times," said Cathi Trail, a store manager, who credits cigarette prices hitting new highs and another federal tobacco tax hike happening April 1. "I would say about 80 percent of my customers want to try it."
Smokers could be burned, though.
The American Cancer Society is concerned some of the ingredients in the devices, including nicotine and propylene glycol, aren't safe to inhale.
"It's not worth the risk because, in our opinion, the only cigarette that's safe is the one that you don't smoke," said Dianna Hemphill, with the American Cancer Society.
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