Fans are calling electronic cigarettes the “healthy way to smoke.”
And as they hit the global market, opponents warn there’s no healthy way to light up.

Hi, I’m Charlotte Bellis, and you’re watching Newsy.com. That was video from the Toronto Star. 

Electronic cigarettes are similar to their traditional counterparts in shape and size, but manufacturers say they don’t have the unhealthy side effects of 2nd hand smoke or dangerous additives.

CNN reports the FDA hasn’t approved electronic cigarettes because it doesn’t know whether to classify them as a device or a drug.

CNN’s Sanjay Gupta explains:

“A little bit hazy when it comes to that. It’s never really been tested in humans—they use nicotine in patches, they use it in gum, but not inhaled before, so what exactly is going to be the impact on humans? They just don’t know because they haven’t tested it.” -Sanjay Gupta (CNN)

E-cig.com is touting the product as “The healthiest alternative smoking products you will ever get!”

And Canada’s Windsor Star calls them a “breath of fresh air” for bars and casinos.

But The Daily Titan warns curious potential buyers not to be fooled, reporting electronic cigarettes contain nearly double the amount of nicotine as regular cigarettes:

“It is the same addictive substance. It will suck even more money and energy out of smokers, and have them begging for more because nicotine acts very much like heroin and cocaine.” (The Daily Titan)

Electronic cigarettes come in flavors like cherry, chocolate and mint.
WFAA TV in Dallas, Texas brings the perspective of a doctor who warns the flavors pose another, more serious risk:

“Flavors like that are not for smokers. That’s for people who want to play with it and for kids. Dr. Weinstein points out the cool design, slick marketing, and addictive nicotine filters could easily get a young person to try it and then get hooked.” (WFAA)

Do you think electronic cigarettes are the safer way to smoke? Can smoking be healthy?