Join us to discuss the pleasure of smoking, vaping and snus!
Thursday, June 4, 2020 at 14:30 
Next week Forest will host our third online meeting during the current pandemic.
I’m reluctant to call it a webinar because that makes it sound more formal than it is.
Anyway our first two meetings discussed issues such as the menthol cigarette ban and calls to ban smoking in seated areas outside pubs and cafes when restrictions are eased.
For our next event we are going to try and recreate - without the voting - something similar to the balloon debates we organised in London (2017) and Birmingham (2018).
Guest speakers will be invited to explain why they like one of the following nicotine devices or products – cigarette, rollies, pipe, cigar, e-cigarette, heated tobacco and snus.
Each speaker will have a few minutes to make their case following which everyone else will be given a chance to chip in.
Our speakers next week are:
Gawain Towler - cigarette
Dan Donovan - rolled tobacco
Ranald Macdonald - cigar
Brian Monteith - pipe
Judy Gibson - e-cigarette
Chris Mounsey - heated tobacco
Mark Oates - snus
If you’d like to join us click here to register.
Date: Thursday June 11, 2020
Time: 6.00-7.00pm
Reader Comments (3)
Preserve the right to smoke!
"Guest speakers will be invited to explain why they like one of the following nicotine devices or products – cigarette, rollies, pipe, cigar, e-cigarette, heated tobacco and snus."
Only an e-cigarette is a nicotine device and then only by choice, the rest contain solanesol.
Solanesol, which mainly accumulates in solanaceous crops, including tobacco, tomato, potato, eggplant, and pepper plants, is a long-chain polyisoprenoid alcohol compound with nine isoprene units. Chemical synthesis of solanesol is difficult; therefore, solanesol is primarily extracted from solanaceous crops, particularly tobacco leaves. In plants, solanesol exists in both free and esterified forms, and its accumulation is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Solanesol is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry as an intermediate for the synthesis of ubiquinone drugs, such as coenzyme Q10 and vitamin K2. Solanesol possesses antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-ulcer activities, and solanesol derivatives also have anti-oxidant and antitumour activities, in addition to other bioactivities. Solanesol derivatives can also be used for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and wound healing."
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11101-015-9393-5#/page-1
cigarettes, rollies, pipes, cigars are capable of creating nitric oxide and carbon monoxide, two gases produced by the bodies own immune system.
Nicotine is something you have to put up with even in your lunch.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could all celebrate enjoyment of our product of choice without constantly being told how ecigs, snus, and heated tobacco save the lives of us poor pathetic smokers who just love a good smoke of old fashioned tobacco . Maybe the nicotine puritans might even discuss harm reduction that doesn't involve quitting or switching. Smokers are the poor relations of other nicotine users who too often come across as tobacco haters who deep down would love smokers to quit and adopt their product of choice instead.
I cannot count how many times I have seen supporters of choice begrudgingly say of course people should be allowed to smoke but then shove in an ecigssavelves or harmreduction hashtag to qualify that actually they don't really mean it. It appears they are really saying that they agree we should be allowed to smoke but wish we didn't and will never shut up nagging about quitting or switching until we come to our senses. I find it all so bloody patronising.
The issue should not be about health but freedom of choice in an alleged free society where we are all legitimate consumers. Sadly, everyone except smokers insist on making it about health. As such, I am afraid I am not interested in the debate.