Sales at VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 vaping stores are being hit hard after B次元官网网址榲ape-related illnessB次元官网网址� reports out of the U.S., and more recently, Canada.

John Delaney, owner of South Island Vapors, says sales are down about 60 per cent, and if the trend continues, he and many other vaping businesses might close.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e had the worst impact you could possibly imagine,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚t is a complete drop in sales for the shop.B次元官网网址�

Vaping products have been on the market since 2004, but in the last year health concerns have taken over the news cycle, with hundreds of possible cases of vape-related illness, including 33 deaths, identified in the U.S. and at least five cases confirmed in Canada.

However a majority of those affected say they had been vaping THC B次元官网网址� the compound in marijuana that provides a high.

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The that most patients with vaping-related lung problems used e-cigarettes containing THC, and the asks consumers to stop using THC-containing vaping products and products purchased B次元官网网址渙ff the streetB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� two things DelaneyB次元官网网址檚 shop doesnB次元官网网址檛 sell.

B次元官网网址淭his is not a vape shop issue, itB次元官网网址檚 a matter of people getting the right story and relaying it in the proper fashion,B次元官网网址� he says, calling the subsequent sales impact and policy-making a B次元官网网址渒nee-jerk reaction.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲hen [consumers] buy off the street, theyB次元官网网址檙e not sure what theyB次元官网网址檙e getting and thereB次元官网网址檚 an inherent risk associated with that B次元官网网址� all that blame is being placed on our industry and itB次元官网网址檚 heart breaking.B次元官网网址�

Heart breaking, Delaney says, because vaping allowed him, and many others, to quit smoking cigarettes. At one time Delaney smoked two packs of Du Mauriers a day.

B次元官网网址淚 started smoking when I was nine,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚 smoked two packs of cigarettes a day for 17 years B次元官网网址� I watched my my father die from smoking-related illness.B次元官网网址� He credits vaping with quitting and the subsequent health benefits includidng breathing, sleeping and tasting food better all while not B次元官网网址渟tinking like a cigarette.B次元官网网址�

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Delaney points to a by the Royal College of Physicians which states that although e-cigarettes are likely more hazardous than other nicotine replacement therapies B次元官网网址� such as gums, patches, sprays, inhalers or lozenges B次元官网网址� the vapour inhalation from regulated products B次元官网网址渋s unlikely to exceed five per cent of the harm from smoking tobacco.B次元官网网址�

, while still in the midst of investigating potential harmful effects, says completely replacing cigarette smoking with vaping reduces exposure to harmful chemicals. The government states that with the exception of nicotine, vaping products typically contain B次元官网网址渁 fraction of the 7,000 chemicals found in tobacco smoke.B次元官网网址�

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Rina Goth opened E-Clectic Vape B次元官网网址� now located on VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Courtenay Street B次元官网网址� six years ago. She says sales have dipped about 20 to 25 per cent since reports of vaping-related illness hit the news.

B次元官网网址淚 knew I would probably get hit a little bit, but itB次元官网网址檚 hit me harder than I thought it would,B次元官网网址� Goth says. B次元官网网址淓very time we get hit by bad news or misinformation thatB次元官网网址檚 out there, the sales go down and it takes a little while for people to come back.B次元官网网址�

To Goth, who also used vaping to quit smoking cigarettes, misinformation about the cause of vaping-related illness is likely the root cause of the sales hit. She says THC and black market products are behind the sudden surge of illnesses.

B次元官网网址淎ll our juices are made by manufacturers here in Canada, and we have very strict laws to what can be put in there,B次元官网网址� she says, adding that one of her big concerns is B.C. MLA Todd StoneB次元官网网址檚 efforts to ban flavoured vaping products.

B次元官网网址淚t concerns me that they are trying to ban flavours. If they ban flavours, IB次元官网网址檓 going bankrupt. I would lose my shop,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚, as an adult, like my flavours and I donB次元官网网址檛 think we should eliminate the flavours just because kids are getting a hold of it.B次元官网网址�

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But vaping is relatively new B次元官网网址� something many health professionals point to as a cause for concern, citing the lengthy time period it took to identify the harmful health impacts of cigarette smoking.

And many of the concerns around vaping are related to non-smoking youth at risk of developing nicotine addictions. A recent Health Canada survey showed that 23 per cent of students in grades 7-12 had tried an e-cigarette.

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Both Delaney and Goth agree that youth vaping is an issue, but point to the fact that identification is required to purchase vaping products in their stores B次元官网网址� and those under 19-years-old are prohibited from making purchases, just like tobacco and alcohol sales.

B次元官网网址淎s an adult-only location, we never sell to minors or anyone under 19,B次元官网网址� Delaney says.

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Since vaping-related illness emerged, the federal government has recommended that those who donB次元官网网址檛 already vape not to start B次元官网网址� but for those who do, it says not to use unregulated or illegal vaping products, not to modify or add substances to vaping products, and finally, not to return to cigarettes if you B次元官网网址渁re vapingB次元官网网址�as a means of quitting cigarette smoking.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 need to vape, because I use nicotine,B次元官网网址� Delaney says. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 an adult. If they take this away from us, if they go ahead with a ban, I will be out buying Du Mauriers.B次元官网网址�

With files from the Canadian Press.