Rendez-vous #25 with David Goerlitz.
David used to be a model for Winston cigarettes, then he became a tobacco control advocate as he told in this rendez-vous we had 20 years ago in May 1999. As a self introduction can you tell us a bit when/how and why you transitioned from tobacco control to vaping activism?
David Goerlitz: I was selected to be the Winston Man in 1981 and spent 7 -8 years doing billboard, magazine, and Point of sale advertisements for the 4th largest brand in the early 80's. I publicly quit smoking in 1988 and quickly became the "golden boy" for the Anti-Tobacco Movement which was just beginning to take shape. Within a decade the Anti-Tobacco Movement became a Multi-Million Dollar Business in itself and in 2006 and 2007 I became disgusted with them as much as the Tobacco Industry. In 2007 I heard of the Vaping (E-cigarette) Concept and thought it was a viable and better Alternative to smoking Combustible Tobacco. That began my interest and research in E-cigarettes.
Q1. In the last episode of your podcast and your youtube video you express frustration about the way the various players part of the vaping landscape operate. Can you expand on that?
David Goerlitz: My frustration with the Vaping Industry is NOW and always has been that the self appointed leaders in Vaping, CASAA, VTA, AVA, SFATA, and others think that by playing fair and nice with legislators and lawmakers at State and Federal Levels is the answer to keeping Vaping "alive and well". I personally think they missed the boat in swaying the public opinion with all the negative publicity, that was being spewed by the media, misinformation and junk science underplaying the benefits of an alternative that was proven over and over again to be at least 95% safer. It became a "new platform" for the corrupt politicians and Anti-Tobacco forces like ALA , ACS, AHA, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, and the American Legacy Foundation (Truth Initiative). Millions spent for lobbying with state groups and little direction by the Vaping Industry as it was in its infancy and they were dealing with corruption on "steroids" of huge proportions. No one wanted to listen to me. They thought they could survive the onslaught of hate because they were right and the antis and haters were wrong. Sadly, Hope is NOT A Strategy.
Q2. You were in Aaron Biebert's 2016 A billion lives film. He is now launching a new project You don't know nicotine. Can you tell us your perspective about both?
David Goerlitz : I was asked to tell my story in Aaron Biebert's Documentary " A Billion Lives" in 2016 and it was a great experience. I was featured in this groundbreaking film, but unfortunately ONLY about 3% of vapers and the public saw it. It was not marketed the way it should/could have been as that takes lots of money of which the production company did not have at the time. More people should have backed and supported it. It was very disappointing. Also, it was a one-sided production as the Industry and government officials we were exposing refused to be interviewed and it lost some of its power because the accused refused to speak. As far as his new Documentary "You Dot Know Nicotine", hopefully more people will support both financially and emotionally his new production to get the truth about Nicotine, which is NOT the KILLER most people think it is unless it combined with combustion and burning and inhaled into the lungs. It's strange that very smart people in the science and medical profession are clueless about Nicotine.
Q3. You express your constant empathy for smokers, how hard it is for most to quit, how tragic the consequences are. Why do you think the fact that vaping helped so many to quit, when nothing else had worked before, is so much dismissed by organizations that claim they fight smoking?
David Goerlitz : I've watched the tragedy of smokers develop over the years and the Tobacco Industry keeps getting a free pass and "stay outa jail cards". I personally, now have lung issues which may need to be corrected with a "double lung transplant". I have severe emphysema. I had a real bad winter and now I am being treated at the Temple Lung Center for Gene Therapy. Over 400,000 Americans die every year consistently and the one thing that has helped approximately 10 million former smokers is vaping. The haters aren't embracing it as Tobacco Harm Reduction. Too much money is at stake for Tobacco Addiction. As of now, smokers know the alternatives are there and IF they are ready and willing to try quitting once and for all, I'm pretty sure they just have to look around and see the friends, spouses and family members who no longer smoke because of vaping. The information is there and all they need to do is LOOK IT UP. They already know the corruption of Government, Tobacco Companies and the Bad Companies like Juul and Blu. Make a decision on Truth and Not look for an excuse to stay smoking, because of the lies and misinformation by those who stand to gain the most MONEY from decimating the Vaping Industry..
Q4. The main mantra used to push for very restrictive regulations on vaping products is they are addicting a growing number of kids (in the US). What do you say to that accusation?
David Goerlitz : I think the Vaping Epidemic is bullcrap. Since the beginning of my life I know how teens are and they will try stupid stuff. We all did. The only thing a kid or teen is held accountable for, for the rest of his/her life is the addiction to Tobacco brought on by 14 Billion Dollars of Advertising by the Tobacco Industry, STILL. We still have about 6-7 Million middle and High School Students smoking combustible tobacco and about 2-3 million teens Vaping ( a product which again is 95% safer). It's political theatre and Grandstanding by Greed and control of Tobacco, Pharma and Health communities.
Q5. You have been an activist a long time, you have seen many battles, ups and downs. What do you consider now as the key issues, what should be the priorities for the vaping industry and the vapers?
David Goerlitz : The only thing that the Vaping Industry can now do is prepare for the Industry to be taken over by Big Tobacco (ALTRIA) which now owns 1/3 of Juul, Blu (IMPERIAL TOBACCO) . The Vaping culture of blowing clouds, chasing clouds, conventions, expos, misinformation and very little spent on public relations to save it has screwed up the best alternative to helping Billions worldwide. We have handed it over to the tobacco companies on a silver platter, sadly. The winners and losers have already been selected and it's NOT the Vape Shops as we know it. There will be vaping but with stores owned by Juul, My Blu, IQOS, and others globally.
Q6. Is there anything else you would like to add?
David Goerlitz : I'm pulling out of the Advocacy sector. I'm done doing what I used to do as I no longer KNOW who and what I'm fighting for. I already worked for Big Tobacco and I'm NOT working for them again. Too many secrets being kept, Too many Vaping businesses going to be sold to the Highest bidders and TOO MUCH CORRUPTION AND CLOSED (BACK DOOR DEALS ) going on for me. The Fat lady is singing.
Thank you David for having taken the time for this rendez-vous.
All our best wishes for your health.
A few links:
Interview on November 22, 2018 with Ghyslain Armand for the Vaping Post
Podcast David G Model Citizen (David Goerlitz) 15 episodes Introduction Episode March 31, 2018
Vaping is not smoking, Documentary about the situation in Québec (September 2017)
Comments