Did you know that electronic cigarettes have a historical timeline?

close up of a girl smoking an electronic cigarette

 the history of e-cigs

Although vaping seems to be all the rave in the media lately, interestingly enough the history of e-cigs actually dates back almost 90 years. So, let’s take a look at how this innovative technology became the device we know and love today.

1930: Joseph Robinson was granted a patent for the first documented reference of an electronic cigarette. Though it was never entirely clear if his prototype was actually manufactured.  

1960s: Jumping ahead 30 years, Herbert A. Gilbert was credited with his creation of the first device that closely resembles a modern-day e-cigarette. Having received his patent in 1965, Gilbert created many prototypes, but failed to commercialize his smokeless, non-tobacco cigarette product.

1979-80s: Now, we’ve entered the age of technology where Phil Ray, one of the pioneers of computers, worked alongside physician Norman Jacobson to create the first commercialized variation of an e-cigarette device — although it wasn’t actually electronic.  

1990s: Many patents for nicotine inhalation devices began to surface during this decade, including products that were invented by big tobacco corporations. Although these devices closely resembled our modern-day nicotine delivery technology, they were denied widespread commercialization due to FDA permissions.

2003: The success of the e-cigarette began in this year due to the success of the first commercial electronic cigarette in Beijing, China. Creator, Hon Lik, reportedly created the device for his father, a heavy smoking who was dying of lung cancer.

2006: E-cigs were introduced to the European market. Shortly after, they made their way to the United States.

2008 – 2012: Various countries and states discover their stance on electronic cigarettes and set regulations based on studies.

2013: The first E-Cigarette Summit was held in London in order to provide a platform to present scientific evidence on vaping. It was aimed at helping inform the public about health and policy debates.

2014: The word of the year is vape and many pro-vaping organizations were created, including American Vaping Association (AVA) and Smoke-Free Alternative Trade Association (SFATA), aimed at educating people about the use of vapor products and e-cigarettes to help smokers quit.

Present day: Vapers continue to fight for their right to use a better form of nicotine delivery.

Did we miss anything significant about the history of e-cigs? Tell us in the comments section below.

 

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