Electronic cigarettes still raising questions in public places

In a world of rapidly growing technology, with more facets of daily life becoming electronic, one device can still turns heads: the electronic cigarette.

"People give me weird looks for smoking inside," said Jeff Martin, a freshman criminal justice major. Martin, also a traditional smoker, enjoys his e-cigarette indoors where normal smoking is not allowed.

E-cigarettes are devices that simulate the appearance and sensation of smoking. While they can be disguised, they often look like normal cigarettes. Some e-cigarettes are smoking cessation devices, akin to nicotine gum. Others are supposedly safer alternatives to smoking a cigarette or hookah.

When a user inhales, an atomizer is activated and releases simulated smoke made out of water vapor. The user absorbs the nicotine and the puff of "smoke" contains only water vapor.

Producers of the e-cigarette claim that they can be used in areas where a smoking ban is effect, such as restaurants, hotels and offices. Martin has not found this to be true.

Last semester, Martin was smoking his e-cigarette in the lobby in Pound Hall. The residence director approached him and asked what he was doing. Martin explained the how e-cigarettes work but the RD called campus police.

Police did not did not confiscate Martin's e-cigarette, but they did find marijuana on him. Charges against him were later dropped.

Martin wishes that he could smoke his e-cigarette inside, which is one of the main purposes of the device. "I buy this thing to use it inside," he said.

Martin did research online to make sure where he would and wouldn't be allowed to smoke an e-cigarette. He said he found they are safe to smoke in a wide variety of places, including hospitals. "I could use it in hospitals, so why can't I use it inside [the dorm]," he said.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2011-2012 Housing Contract Policies do not specifically mention e-cigarettes by name, however, according to its Tobacco-Free Policy, all UNL residence halls are tobacco-free. The policy says that this includes the use of any tobacco product.

Some brands of e-cigarettes offer extensive variety in flavor cartridges, while others provide a basic nicotine fix and flavor. Connor Swanson, a freshman business administration major, bought the Health E-Cigarette brand around a month ago to help him quit smoking.

He now uses his e-cigarette about half of the time to smoke indoors. He enjoys the convenience, but said the flavor is not the same. "It's nothing compared to a real cigarette," Swanson said.

E-cigarettes were developed in China in 2003 and soon after hit the international market. Most e-cigarettes are found online. Starter packages with extra cartridges and chargers can be found for around $40 to over $100. Some disposable units are available for around $10.

Martin hopes that more people, and law enforcement specifically, will become aware of e-cigarettes. He would like to able to smoke it indoors since "all those carcinogens are taken out of the equation," he said.

"It's not harmful."

source: www.dailynebraskan.com