Five years ago, the vaping advocacy world was a lot simpler. CASAA was there, of course; they’ve been around since 2009, representing consumers without much fanfare — and, sadly, very little money. As far as industry, the only real game in town was NJOY, whose government affairs pros Pamela Gorman and Brian Fojtik ranged across the country, tamping down threats and training lobbyists. They helped a lot of beginning vape advocates get started too.

There were vapers who made it their business to spread the word, raise awareness about legislation, and get people working together. Some of them were “vape famous” figures like YouTube reviewer Dimitris Agrafiotis — who later formed the Tennessee Smoke-Free Association and SEVIA USA. But most were just regular vapers who felt an obligation to help save this thing that had helped them so much. A lot of those people helped form the state associations that became the early backbone of the vape advocacy community.

It seems like there’s a new “miracle cure” promising a fix for vaping’s ills every month.What didn’t exist five years ago was a confusing cornucopia of professionals, amateurs, well-meaning sympathizers, and possible charlatans. It was the deeming rule and its cousins in the state legislatures that made the world of vaping a popular destination for carpetbaggers and con men. On May 5, 2016, the American vaping universe exploded with fear and uncertainty.

Nowadays, it’s hard sometimes to be sure who’s on our side, who’s a serious player, and who’s just in it for money or power or fame. It seems like there’s a new “miracle cure” promising a fix for vaping’s ills every month. How many more unknown saviors are waiting in the wings to push a previously unheard-of strategy to a group of people desperate for a solution. There’s a lot of “junk advocacy” out there, a lot of legal gimmicks. Come to the ecigs forum to get more information.

We’re being asked to support ideas that are longshots at best, and damaging at worst. You’ve probably heard about the village of Hartland, WI, and its effort to challenge the deeming regulations based on the legal strategy of “coordination.” The theory goes that the regs are invalid because the FDA didn’t consult with local governments when writing them. True, they didn’t. They also never have before, and they never will in the future, because it would be impossible to coordinate with every municipality in the country that has a local business impacted by a federal regulation. Besides, Hartland had plenty of opportunity during the public comment period to state its case, and it didn’t. This tactic isn’t the village’s idea.

Don’t get me wrong — the village itself is welcome to do as it pleases, and good luck to them. In fact, as farfetched as the strategy is, it can’t hurt to have more challengers pile onto the FDA. The more uncomfortable those smug regulators feel, the better. Hey, I say let 100 anti-FDA flowers bloom! The problem isn’t Hartland. It’s the self-described “seasoned political consultant” who heads a “powerful organization” (that few people have heard of) who wants to “use his political skills” to save the vaping industry. In fact, he’s going to “stop the clock on current regulations within 60 days”…if he can get vapers to pony up $200,000.

This guy is a longtime Wisconsin politico whose last splash was as Herman Cain’s 2008 presidential campaign manager. And the strategy is the brainchild of a “seasoned lawyer and expert on the legal process of Coordination.” But while the politico’s group was busy crowdfunding from vapers, the attorney’s license to practice law in Maryland was being suspended (for unrelated reasons). I think they see vapers as easy to manipulate to serve their purposes. The joke’s on them though: the Indiegogo campaign has only recieved around $7,000 in pledges of the $200,000 goal in two months.

Follow this simple rule of thumb: if someone asks you for money to support something that sounds too good to be true, walk away. You already know the people you should trust in this space. Don’t fall for novelties. If you have money to spend helping vape survive and prosper, send it to the people who’ve been fighting for vapers all along. Consumers, join CASAA and contribute. Vendors, join your state association and one of the national ones — SFATA or the VTA — and support the AVA too.

tags:Ecigs Forum, ecigs