Gerald’s pretty much the most classic “old school” person we have on board here at SmokeHall.com. He still rolls his own cigarettes and totes a pipe! While he considers his “type” a “dying breed,” we’d like to think his thoughts are even more valuable for those very reasons. Not afraid to smoke cigars and play cards with the guys, Gerald’s views are perhaps the most unique because many people don’t know much about pipe smoking or rolling cigarettes. In a society where the world is starting to smoke electronically, we’re positive you’ll appreciate his contributions to SmokeHall.com
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Resident Beach Chic & Guys’ Gal – Gina Conti
Gina comes to us with a unique point of view on all topics related to smoking. The proverbial “cool chic” isn’t afraid to speak her mind. Raised in South Florida, Gina enjoys hookah smoking but will also weigh in on topics related to clove cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, cigars, and even the occasional “stoner talk.” A life long fan of the Miami Dolphins, Gina’s opinions are the only female voice we have so far in our young existence online, but anyone who knows Gina knows her voice is LOUD.
Gina doubles as the sites “amatuer webmaster” and is currently studying Computer Sciences at a local University.
Andy Gray – Electronic Cigarette Extraordinaire
We’re very lucky to have Andy Gray on board posting insight on the topic of electronic cigarettes. Back in 2009, Andy quit smoking, something he was trying to do for over 10 years. He did so with the help of electronic cigarettes. While this is a website all about smoking and related products, we couldn’t help but become intrigued with Andy’s ability to convey information about electronic cigarettes, devices that are truely changing the landscape of how people smoke.
Gray’s popular electronic cigarette reviews have become gospel in the industry, and he’s often quoted in major publications. You can read more about his media presence here.
From time to time, Gray will share his thoughts on where the industry is going and even break down the latest electronic cigarette brands. Sharing coupon codes and giving advice is his forte, and he’s confident he can help people of all ages and backgrounds find that perfect vapor cigarette product. After all, he’s been doing this since 2009! His popular website has over 2,000 comments and remains the most insightful website about the topic of electronic cigarette smoking.
“I’m happy to be here and continue to spread my message about a device that truly changed my life.” – Andy
We’re happy to have Andy here and look forward to his contributions to SmokeHall.com.
Havana Mike
Meet Havana Mike. Bio Coming Soon. (Mike’s in Cuba.)
Still no weed for foreigners in the Netherlands says a Dutch Judge
When you think of Amsterdam, what do you think of? Their contribution to world politics? Maybe their high level of education, or what about their famous smoked meat? No, you think of the red light district and smoking weed, from marijuana shops to eating weed brownies, and everything else involving weed.
However, a Dutch judge upheld a previous ruling and will pretty much kill the tourist industry with this, in my opinion. Non dutch residents will be restricted from buying weed, and current shops will be turned into private clubs limited to just 2000 members. The mayor, Eberhard van der Laan (his real name), is trying to work out a compromise with the national government. Rightfully so, since his city relies heavily on tourism, and this is sure to put a dent in it. This comes into effect next year, with approximately 23% of tourists visting ‘coffee shops’. So only about a 1/4 of people admit to smoking weed basically, you can bet that figure is higher. The ban is currently enforced in other cities in the Netherlands right now with police having raided several shops in Maastricht.
The only bright side on this is that there will be an election in September, and hopefully the new government will recognize the importance of weed to the Dutch and to all people who cherish weed and want to visit.
Full Article Here
Smokers not wanted for Australian jobs
Some moral dilemas going on down south in Australia. some recent online advertisements for job openings have explicitly stated smokers are not welcome. All sorts of jobs, from trainers to receptionists. Not that I can see how smoking can affect one’s ability to do any type of work, even professional athletes smoke and admit to smoking.
One ad for a graphic designer says that “smoker’s need not apply.” But this is not just unique to our kangaroo hopping friends overseas. Several U.S hospitals have started testing workers for nicotine. I guess, I can see how that makes sense. Would you really want a smoking doctor operating on you? If he doesn’t care for his own life, just how trustworthy might he be with yours. I can see how that mentality follows through with a lot of people.
All this falls into a very gray category. Some industries, such as health + fitness, or public relations, might not want to reflect an image where employees smoke. Is it against the law to excluse a group of people who smoke from applying or even hiring them as well? Unfortunately I’m not a judge or lawyer so I can’t say, but I just report the news!
17% of Canadians Smoke new survery shows
Even though smoking rates have dropped over the last decade, approximately 4.7million to as high as 6 million Canadians still puff away on their tobacco cigs. It is spread even across all ages and both males and females. Trying not to offend anyone, but he does anyway, Neil Collishaw, research director for Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada said there are some groups that do have a higher rate than the national average.
Can you guess which ones? Labelled ‘vulnerable’ populations, that includes aboriginals and poor people. Another disturbing fact is around 12 percent of 15-19 year olds smoke. So even below the legal age, kids are still getting cigarettes. But that number was more than double just over 10 years ago.
Now an even crazier stat, is that in 1965 more than half the population smoked, 61%. I don’t think I would have ever guessed that. I think as time goes on, more and more people will be using electronic cigarettes and I think they will take over from traditional cigarettes. No one likes the smell and they are now banned in most public places.
Full Article Here
Doctor confirms less harmful ingredients in ecigs
Confirming what most people thought anyways, Dr. Michael Cummings reports that there are less harmful ingredients when using an electronic cigarette than a traditional cigarette. He does go on to add the word, when used ‘sensibly’. With the modding community getting quite large, and different options available for tricking your ecig, we guess he means when used as intended by the manufacturer.
There are approximately 20 ingredients when consuming ecig vapor. That is far less than what a normal cigarette has, and those ingredients are considerably less harmful to your body as well. So, save a tree, and smoke an e-cigarette!
Israel proceeds with ban on tobacco ads
Israel’s Ministerial committee approved a new bill that prohibits tobacco advertising in print ads and on the world wide web. As other countries have already done, Israel will also ban tobacco companies from sponsoring events that they have done in the past. This is sure to be a big blow to an industry heavily reliant on sponsorship to lure in new customers from a young age.
Recently, a lot of tobacco companies have come out with flavored cigarettes. What better way to atttract a new and younger generation with offering them fruit flavored nicotine? Start them young, then get them hooked for life. No more, as tobacco companies in Israel will not be allowed to sell them or even have fruit markings on the package.
There are other restrictions as well, such as marketing the cigarettes in the shapes of toys. Warning labels must be increased. A lot of countries, such as Canada, has very similiar laws already in effect. Studies do show that these kinds of laws have an impact on the smoking rate. Although, it does seem like an infringement on the rights of companies to make money in a capitilistic economy, and people should be allowed to make their own mistakes. I guess sometimes we need big brother to enforce some smart laws because not everyone is that smart.
Fake cigars seized in Miami
So apparantly those drug sniffing dogs are able to smell out a fake Cohiba because over 10,000 cigars were seized in Miami, with a retail value of more than $200,000. So who was caught selling these fine cubans? Well the raids took place in little Havana at several shops. The laws being broken fall under the same category as counterfeit goods because they infringe on the Cohiba trademark. General Cigar owns the rights to the name, and have been known to aggressively pursue anyone trying to sell fakes. If you can’t trust getting a real cuban in little havana right in Miami, a stone’s throw away from Cuba, then where can you?
