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Eric BrasherSept. 26, 2019MC 4500 Story #2Seven deaths and over 500 related illnesses in the recent month has caused the stock of e-cigarettes to plummet. Controversy over what needs to be done in regard to this issue has been discussed from President Trump to local law enforcement. However, most lawmakers have been hesitant to provide any type of action. Vaping is suppose to be for those looking for safer alternatives in nicotine consumption. And to those who sell professionally in the industry, they still stand firm behind this belief. The hypothesis is that substitute THC cartridges are the cause for what is only identified at the moment as mysterious lung disease, according to CDC experts. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the hallucinogenic component of marijuana. Other chemicals are assumed to be combined in THC cartridges. Doctors specializing in smoking treatment have been on the record preaching the likely correlation been the unknown chemicals with the sourcing of the illness. While this may be true, none have been identified because the investigation is young and still developing. Until conclusive results have been reached organizations like the CDC and the FDA have asked the general public to abstain from vaping if possible, especially those using THC cartridges. In the past month, states like Michigan and New York have placed restrictions on nicotine based vaping products. Both restriction plans had a heavy focus on flavored nicotine vaping products, but neither state included a widespan band or total shutdown on vaping retailers. That all changed on Tuesday when Massachusetts announced a four-month, statewide ban for all retailers of vaping products. Leaving those who sell in Louisiana, including local dealer David Sommers, concerned and frustrated with the industry’s future.“I guarantee there will be more illnesses and deaths reported in Massachusetts now because of that decision,” said Sommers. Sommers has been the owner of Go Vapor in Baton Rouge for five years now. Go Vapor is a local source for premium vaporizers, e-cigarettes, supplies and accessories. Sommers believes placing a statewide ban on vape products will end up hurting the people that a state is trying to help.“What will happen is a total elimination of quality products. If you take that away people will be left to fend with whatever they can find, which will be black market products. More people will now be buying the counterfeit products with unregulated substances than ever before. That will likely lead to more deaths,” said Sommers.Sommers estimates that in five years of business Go Vapor has been able to help over 1,000 people get off cigarettes. He’s had multiple doctors recommend patients who smoke to his store after a surgery for a safer alternative while in recovery. Go Vapor has never had any type of health issue filed or brought to their attention regarding any of their products sold in the past.He attributes this 100 percent pure ingredients that are required and regulated for products at Go Vapor or any other licensed vape dealer. These compounds are purchased from credible pharmaceutical companies and combined together in the safest manner possible. Black market dealers who are not regulated will never have the capability of purchasing these pharmaceuticals.Go Vapor sales have definitely decreased in recent weeks after lots of negative coverage on vaping in the national media, according to Sommers. Coverage that agitates him when he sees the effect it’s having on e-cigarettes’ reputation.“The problem is coming from dickheads selling shit they mixed together from whatever they could buy in Walmart. Stuff that should never be inhaled to the human body. That’s not happening from regulated stores and dealers,” said Sommers.Those who work at LA Vape & Beyond, a local vape lounge that’s popular with LSU students, also disagree with the premise for any statewide bans similar to Massachusetts’.“I totally think they’re focused on the wrong thing. Officials are just trying to save face in the media right now so they can sleep better at night,” said Braden Templet.Templet is a sales representative for LA Vape. He says banning flavored nicotine products sold in retail will group them together with counterfeit vaping in the media, which he believes is the cause of these lung issues. LA Vape has not had any of the national focus problems with their products and also receives many customers through doctors’ recommendation.“Taking away retail vaping from a state increases the chances of someone using more counterfeit products or returning to smoking cigarettes. Why the hell would you want that?”Isaac Issa is a co-owner of LA Vape. He feels the most upset for the people who work in the industry in Massachusetts and hopes that it never becomes the case in Louisiana.“My biggest problem is taking jobs away from the people doing business the right way. This business has been around successfully for years. But lately people are cutting up their own product outside the shop, and the shops are having to pay for it,” said Issa.Similar to Go Vapor, the staff at LA Vape say they have had less sales and attendance in the lounge in past recent weeks. And while both businesses hope to see the negative cloud over the industry end soon, one owner was able to lean on a silver lining with the prospect of dealing with any short-term recession.“If our business has to take a hit in order to save more people from dying, then you know it is what it is,” said Sommers. ................
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