I just sent this letter to Prof. Brad Rodu who is a professor of medicine in the endowed chair in tobacco harm reduction research, University of Louisville.
Prof. Rodu,
I just wanted to thank you for your work in promoting smokeless tobacco as a safer alternative to smoking. I am a 35 year old man who was a smoker for 20 years. I discovered Swedish snus in August of this year, and once I started using it I was 100% smoke free in about 2 weeks. Even though my wife continues to smoke, thus providing easy access to cigarettes at home, with snus I no longer have any desire (or craving) to smoke.
I am aware of many of the health related studies on smokeless tobacco, including the one on Swedish snus that was recently published in the Lancet. I would like to do whatever I can to help the cause for smokeless tobacco as safer alternative to smoking.
One issue that greatly worries me is the recently passed House Bill titled “Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act (PACT) of 2008.” This bill bans all tobacco shipments through the U.S. mail, including smokeless products. I currently live in Wisconsin where Swedish snus is not available in any stores, so I must have it delivered from Sweden. I’m afraid that if this bill passes the Senate that I won’t have access to these products. I understand that the government wants their piece of the tobacco tax, and I’m fine with that. I’m no tax dodger, but I simply can’t get snus here in WI. With the current economic situation, I don’t think that the Senate will be acting on this bill this year. However, the bill overwhelmingly passed the House 379 to 12, which leads me to believe that it will easily pass the Senate. Since we might have a few months before the bill reaches the Senate, is there anything we can do to prevent or mitigate the consequences for people like me? If there is any study that I could participate in, or any testimonial that I could give for you, than please sign me up!
I just wanted to thank you for your work in promoting smokeless tobacco as a safer alternative to smoking. I am a 35 year old man who was a smoker for 20 years. I discovered Swedish snus in August of this year, and once I started using it I was 100% smoke free in about 2 weeks. Even though my wife continues to smoke, thus providing easy access to cigarettes at home, with snus I no longer have any desire (or craving) to smoke.
I am aware of many of the health related studies on smokeless tobacco, including the one on Swedish snus that was recently published in the Lancet. I would like to do whatever I can to help the cause for smokeless tobacco as safer alternative to smoking.
One issue that greatly worries me is the recently passed House Bill titled “Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act (PACT) of 2008.” This bill bans all tobacco shipments through the U.S. mail, including smokeless products. I currently live in Wisconsin where Swedish snus is not available in any stores, so I must have it delivered from Sweden. I’m afraid that if this bill passes the Senate that I won’t have access to these products. I understand that the government wants their piece of the tobacco tax, and I’m fine with that. I’m no tax dodger, but I simply can’t get snus here in WI. With the current economic situation, I don’t think that the Senate will be acting on this bill this year. However, the bill overwhelmingly passed the House 379 to 12, which leads me to believe that it will easily pass the Senate. Since we might have a few months before the bill reaches the Senate, is there anything we can do to prevent or mitigate the consequences for people like me? If there is any study that I could participate in, or any testimonial that I could give for you, than please sign me up!
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