Vaping Accused of Threatening National Security; Russia's Vape Market May Face a Crushing Blow

Gennady Onishchenko, Russian MP and former chief sanitary inspector

According to Sputnik News, Gennady Onishchenko, a Russian MP and former chief sanitary inspector, revealed to RIA Novosti that electronic cigarettes and nicotine vaporizers not only harm health but may also pose a significant threat to Russia's national security, calling for electronic cigarettes to be classified as tobacco products and treated like cigarettes.

Electronic cigarettes, abbreviated as e-cigarettes, are small handheld devices used to vaporize flavored e-liquids for inhalation. The e-liquids used typically contain nicotine, but not always. The act of using electronic cigarettes is sometimes referred to as "vaping."

Tobacco companies and e-cigarette advocates firmly believe that vaping poses far less of a health threat than smoking traditional cigarettes and does not produce so-called "secondhand smoke." However, opponents argue that the vapor produced by e-cigarettes contains carcinogens and that these devices actually increase the number of smokers rather than decrease it.

Onishchenko revealed to RIA Novosti that these devices pose a serious public health threat in Russia, but unfortunately, many of his former colleagues are more concerned about economic and investment issues.

Onishchenko stated:
"International tobacco giants like Philip Morris like to take advantage of this. Their representatives are being invited by the government to discuss the production of vaporizer cartridges in our country with public health officials. I believe such proposals directly threaten Russia's national security."

He dismissed claims that "tobacco lobbying" is behind the opposition to e-cigarettes, pointing out that tobacco companies are unlikely to fight against products they have developed themselves and are now trying to sell in countries implementing anti-tobacco laws.

Onishchenko warned:
"Such rumors often come from unethical scientists and 'tobacco lobby' PR. When comparing vaporizers and cigarettes, they tend to emphasize everything except the most important component in vaporizers - nicotine. The advertising of vaporizers claims that the vapor produced does not contain substances found in cigarette smoke, but they do not mention that this vapor contains nicotine." Onishchenko added that more and more people, especially young people, are becoming addicted to nicotine due to vaporizers.

He noted that electronic cigarettes were developed in response to significant anti-tobacco legislation passed in many countries, and this initiative can be addressed through appropriate regulation.

Onishchenko speculated:
"Overall, if we classify electronic vaporizers as tobacco products and start treating them like cigarettes, then the issues surrounding electronic vaporizers can be resolved. I am confident that sooner or later, some anti-vaping laws will be enacted, but this process will take time. Meanwhile, tobacco companies will cause many people to become addicted to nicotine. Once vaporizers are banned, these companies will simply switch back to regular tobacco."