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This week has some interesting stories to tell. Each is connected to electronic cigarettes in some interesting way. So here’s 3 interesting nuggets. Please enjoy.

Part 1: The Mass In Mass

It seems the town of Westminster in Massachusetts is seeking to enact a 100% ban on the sale of tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, within the boundaries of the city. This has not gone over well with many of the locals, and a hearing on Wednesday was forced to end early for fear that the crowd might riot. Even if it hadn’t, the boos and shouts from the crowd made it impossible for the hearing to make any progress. What would likely have been a 3 hour hearing was closed within 25 minutes.

If passed, this would be the first ban of its kind in the nation. But the locals certainly aren’t happy. In addition to arguing for consumer freedom, local convenience stores stand to lose $100,000 in tobacco sales and more as smokers head out of town for their tobacco and likely grab other groceries while they’re at it. Those in favor of the ban were quick to argue that it would protect kids from smoking and bubblegum-flavored cigars and electronic cigarettes.

There will not be a make-up hearing. Locals may submit comments by December 1st if they would like to be heard.

Part 2: Australia Accidentally Allows E-Cigs

Despite extensive (and confusing) national bans on e-cigs in Australia, there were three electronic cigarette products which had approval to be sold as medical devices for smoking cessation for the last 2 months. EVA Natural applied to the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods for the right to sell three products as medical devices designed for smoking cessation. All three applications were approved within about 24 hours, but now the Register is undoing what it considers a mistake.

But really, it’s no wonder there is confusion when it comes to electronic cigarettes in Australia. The rules on them vary wildly depending on the interpretation of a given judge in a given area at any given time. In many situations, the interpretation is something close to a complete ban, but not always. Some areas, for instance, only ban electronic cigarettes that look like conventional tobacco cigarettes.

A spokeswoman said the error was fixed after someone realized the device had been “self-listed inappropriately.” That’s oversight at its best.

Part 3: Smoking Addiction Lands Terror Group Member in Jail

Flavien Moreau, a citizen of France, left to join the Islamic terror group the ISIL, but quit after only 10 days because he couldn’t handle the smoking ban the organization has mandated for its fighters. He returned to France with the intention of purchasing an electronic cigarette and attempting to quit so that he could rejoin. However, he was arrested and ultimately sentenced to 7 years of jail time for his involvement with the terror group. Another French national was sentenced to 4 years for corresponding with Moreau.

A smoking ban among fighters probably makes sense. Smoking can be a regular distraction for individuals that might otherwise be more attentive to their surroundings. This rule, however, just landed two members in jail and has probably lost them more than that. It seems possible that a total smoking ban does more harm than good. Nicotine withdrawal can have some nasty effects on an otherwise effective soldier.

Still, this was not a story I would ever have expected to read.