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Special Report: Examining Electronic Cigarettes

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        There's a rising trend in the air many people are turning to as an alternative to smoking called "vaping." As in the liquid vapor emitted from electronic cigarettes.
        These e-cigarettes do not require a match or lighter, yet they are igniting a firestorm of controversy. The Chinese invention was first introduced into the market 10 years ago.
        But, are just now gaining "mainstream" popularity.
        Many questions linger, such as, are e-cigs a health risk?
        How are they being misused? And are they an effective tool to help people quit smoking?
        Dylan Petulla owns Fresno City Vapor" at Bullard and First Street. Step inside his shop and you won't encounter tobacco fumes.
        But rather, clouds of fog filled with fruity scents, "Jt is a mango iced tea flavor," said Petulla.
        The 23-year old opened for business last August. He specializes in personal vaporizers known as mods. They are larger and more powerful than traditional e-cigs.
Petulla targets a specific customer.  "Those" who want to quit smoking," said Petulla.
        "I would say 99% of my customer base were smoking cigarettes at one point and now they don't. that's a really cool thing to be a part of," said Petulla.
         "If I wasn't for these things i'd probably still be puffing away on those cancer sticks," said 22-year old Lance Benggon.
         Benggon said e-cigs" act as a form of group therapy.
         "I'm hanging out with people who have the same interest and are out for the same cause so it really helps a lot," said Benggon.
         "It's like being slapped in the face saying reality has hit you. you're having a kid, time to straighten up," said Louis Serrato.
         Louis Serrato and Eva Valencia are expecting a baby girl, Louis realized that if he kept smoking, he might miss out on critical moments of their daughter's life.
         Little things like going to their t-ball games, parent teacher conferences. If I keep smoking you never know what's going to happen.
         Doctor Alan Kelton of the U.C.S.F. School of Medicine in Fresno actually supports electronic cigarettes.
         "They are using it as a way to quit smoking and then eventually quit the electronic cigarettes i usually support that, yes," said Kelton.
         Doctor Kelton said more studies need to be done to determine possible risk factors.
         So he hesitates to associate the word safe, with vaping. Theoretically they are safer, but we're not sure.
         E-liquids, contain propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin, common ingredients in household and skincare products.
         You "can" purchase nictotine-free flavors, and they also come in four other strengths, ranging from 6 grams of nicotine, up to 24 grams.
         Petulla has greatly reduced his craving for the drug.
         "I'm vaping zero nicotine most of the time," said Petulla.
         Meanwhile, Dr.Kelton and others in the medical world have concerns that vaping could have a reverse effect of quitting smoking.
         "It's possible if somebody likes the effect of nicotine by feeling more alert, more at ease in certain situations they may think wow, i want to try cigarettes now.
          Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims has a different set of concerns. "My problem with this is they're obviously marketing to children.
certain e-cigarettes look like pens a student might carry around," said Mims.
          Some recently turned up on a high school campus in Clovis.
         And the worry stretches far beyond nicotine, in Los Angeles they're taking these apart to put concentrated marijuana, known as honey oil.
         Those are the labs that have been exploding here recently and smoking it like that.
         These dangers are why the sheriff, chose to print out valuable information about e-cigs for educators to read. "Once this gets out to all of the teachers and employees in school districts, they're going to be more aware now," said Mims.  
         They're going to know what kids are doing and what they're trying to get away with.
         The internet is where minors can easily get their hands on these devices.
         So, last month, California Assemblyman Roger Dickinson introduced legislation which would ban online sales of tobacco and e-cigarettes to anyone in California.
         "We need to do more to save our kids from a lifetime of tobacco addiction and related health problems," said Dickinson.
         Petulla agrees. He said having the buyer and seller in the same room together, is the best way to monitor distribution.
         "I card everyone that looks near the age of 18 to be on the safe side," said Petulla.



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