The e-cigarette has become one of the most promising technologies in less than a decade in tobacco harm reduction. Are you aware of the journey of the electronic cigarette and how it reached where it is today?
1963: The first-ever e-cigarette
A man named Herbert Gilbert designed a device that could produce vapor from tobacco through heating rather than combustion. Many companies took an interest in it, but it never was commercialized.
1964-1999: Too safe to sell
Some of such devices were commercialized by companies like RJ Reynolds, but none gained traction in the market. Smokers frequently complained about the taste of an electronic cigarette.
1981: First reference to vaping
Dr. Norman L Jacobson took a two-year trial of electronic cigarettes and, for the first time, used to words vaping and vaper.
2000: A dream
After 40 years of invention, Hon Lik, a china man, had a dream. He was a smoker, and his father died of cancer due to smoking. He saw himself drowning in the sea, where the sea turned to vapor.
2004: First electronic cigarette
Golden Dragon was the first company to produce electronic cigarettes. Hon Lik designed a method to turn nicotine to vapor using the piezo-electric circuit. His company filed the patent and changed its name to Ruyan, which means resembling smoking.
2005-2006: E-cigarette reached west
In 2005 Ruyan started exports to Europe. In 2006 it started exporting to the US. The initial market was comparatively small, considering these devices as a novelty item.
2007: Slow progress
Some indications show that the FDA became aware of the e-cigarette but didn’t take any action against the product.
2008: The battle commences
In this year, more companies introduced electronic cigarettes throughout America and Europe. The design also changed, and the heating element was used instead of piezo.
2009: Lawsuits
Sottera, the parent company of electronic cigarette brand smoking, filed an FDA complaint regarding the injunction to stop shipment seizures.
2010: Bans, restrictions, and vape meets
Thailand and Singapore, along with many other nations, banned the use of e-cigarettes. Also, the FDA won the first appeal against injunction but later lost the case in US court.
2011: Scientists got behind e-cigarette
In 2011 the electronic cigarette got researched regarding what was said. It was to find whether the e-cigar can have the potential to get people off of cigarettes.
2012: An eventful year
2012 is considered an excellent year for vaping industry. There were a good amount of studies made in this field, and a fantastic array of products hit the market.
2013: A battle with EU
Just at the starting of the year, things became active. The FDA announced its annual plan document with its intention to make a move regarding regulating electronic cigarettes by the end of April. The stories of e-cigarette had both positive and negative turns for several weeks, and lastly, these were accepted by the market.
Conclusion
There were year-wise details regarding how electronic cigarettes came into existence. There were many ups and downs in the industry regarding the use of such a product, but later it was accepted legally.