Electronic cigarettes and other tobacco alternatives have developed into a multibillion-dollar industry in the U.S. Now, the industry is at a tipping point of continued growth or total collapse —even though it’s still unclear how safe the devices really are.In fact, vapes and e-cigs have become one of the most debated issues in public health. Research in other countries have deemed e-cigs safe and good alternatives to smoking, but the CDC has labeled them dangerous, and the FDA recently passed a series of strict regulations that could put many e-cig companies out of business.VICE News’ Michael Moynihan spoke with one small vape-shop owner who fears going out of business, and two researchers who have been driven apart in the ideological battle of tobacco alternatives.This segment originally aired April 6, 2017, on VICE News Tonight on HBO.