I think this a more pertinent topic than banning tobacco, as it is possible that other Australian States will follow Victoria in banning electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes. Currently there is little data available on the health effects of electronic cigarettes, yet it would seem logical to regard them as far less harmful than conventional tobacco products, as most of the 20 chemicals in e-cigarettes are approved food additives. E-cigarettes can also be made nicotine free, and could be used to deliver vitamins and micro-nutrients.

The move to ban e-cigarettes seems cynical and hypocritical. Exponents cite concerns with the safety of nicotine as the main reason for the ban whilst conventional tobacco products remain legal.

I think that e-cigarettes are a victim of the belief that we can all become addicts. Sadly this false belief could ultimately deny many smokers a safer alternative.

the subsised nicoteen gum industry
and the medicinal patch ..drug supply multinationals
will use their full weight of lobby ..to ban it

anything atatched to smoking ..has its fruits of fear
sure you can only be sukking on steam
[thats what conmes out of many industrial chimminies]

but ignorants will allways presume
if it looks like smoke..for them it must be
either cancer or carbon..the big C.C..

heck they believe that carbon dioxide is the only greenhouse gas worthy of taxing..when there are 100's of greenhouse gasses
many far worse..[not getting carbon taxed]

its much the same with e-cigarettes
anyone can make them

but patches and gum
hey you can corner the market
and then claim its govt subsidy...
its a great fear based exclusive franchise

[ya gotta love the anti smoking lobby]..[money men behind it]
they know ..how to get the last penny
..from the govt drug *subsidy purse]

and stop ANYONE else claiming a share
in what ...they see ...as their cake

the aim isnt to save smokers
its hold onto their market franchise

and their pr spin machine is ever ready to protect their hard earned [lobbied for] turf

why bother banning anything
because it keeps the options restricted to those
cleaning up ..from their current anti smoker marketing franchise created via govt paid for adverts and spin ..selective lie and deciete

didnt we get told tar in our lungs causes cancer?
30 years ago

well here is a tar free solution
and what happens...govt treason bans it

and no body even notices
how two faced our govts 'leaders'..are
showing the nice face to their mates[big business]

and the tax you to death stare to smokers
[tax paying their smoking compulsory BIG tax
right up to the day they fall gasping,into their early graves]

oug

This might be an instance where science can be an ally instead of a persecutor. While I share your view that some of the opposition might be from potential competitors not wanting competition, I think that there is also a fear that underlies the ban. I think the view that addiction would become widespread without prohibition is still commonplace. Much of the research on addiction indicates that only about 5% of the population is susceptible, and of those only about half will become addicts.

As for your concerns with patches and gum, the e-cigarette can only be marketed as an alternative to tobacco. Much of the Medical concern with e-cigarettes is understandable, given the limited research available, but you might be comforted by the fact that some Doctors support their use instead of tobacco. e.g.

http://www.annals.org/content/153/9/607.short/reply#annintmed_el_126160

"E-cigarettes are intended as a substitute for cigarettes for smokers unwilling or unable to quit, yet desiring to all-but-eliminate their exposure to the other toxic substances in cigarette smoke.1 They are marketed as tobacco products, not pharmaceuticals for smoking cessation therapy.

FDA's own studies of E-cigarettes show that they contain the same carcinogens in the same trace quantities as the Nicorette and other pharmaceutical nicotine replacement therapy products already approved by FDA (1)."

"This research led to the conclusion that almost all tobacco-related illness and death in the United States is due to the smoking of cigarettes and that alternative smokeless tobacco and nicotine products, including but not limited to snus, E-cigarettes and the pharmaceutical NRT products, pose a risk of tobacco-related death less than 2% the risk posed by cigarettes (2,3)."