Snus targetted in Alaska

[darkwing]

From snus-news blogspot:
State Representative concerned tobacco companies targeting our young with SNUS..

March 31, 2009 - State Representative Bob Herron, Alaska State Government - District 38 - Bethel recently introduced HB 188 to change the state’s system of taxation on moist snuff tobacco (more commonly known as chew or iqmik). My goal is to reduce the use of smokeless tobacco in Alaska, especially amongst young people.

Herron is very concerned with new lightweight tobacco products such as “snus”, which tobacco companies are using to target our young people. The small, individually wrapped packets of tobacco are packaged very attractively in a brightly colored tin. They smell more like candy than tobacco, and the method of ingestion eliminates the need to spit. Such a product constitutes a significant risk to our youth, many of whom already chew.

Reference: YKHC Tribal Unity Gathering begins Wednesday in Bethel by Rep. Bob Herron, The Tundra Drums, 3/30/2009.

[MrAbstracto]

Yet another bullshit piece of "think of the children" legislation. I'm ready to move to the moon, who's with me?

[lxskllr]

Yet another bullshit piece of "think of the children" legislation. I'm ready to move to the moon, who's with me?

I like the idea of Mars. I was captivated by the pictures that got sent back by the last lander. Very desolate, but interesting :^)

[Soft Morning, City!]

I'm down for the moon or Mars. Anything with a surface, really. I'm tired of all the idiocy. Just give me a quiet place, some Ettan loose and some pot and leave me the **** alone.

[snusjus]

I love how legislators believe snus is solely marked toward children. If Big Tobacco wanted to make money off children, they would buy stocks of Hershey's or Nickelodeon.

[texasmade]

first cigs are targeting children...now this NEW THING(over 200 years old) known as SNUS...is targeting children.....bright colors....hmmm maybe to catch the eyes of potential buyers because who is gonna look at a black tin and say that looks extremely ****ing amazing let me buy that....

[deebocools]

Remember what George Carlin said. Kids have more reason to smoke than adults, they have stressful lives and nicotine helps. Not as much as pot, but...

[hoss]

I dunno....will northerner ship to the moon? Hate to cut off my nose to spite my face :lol:

[MrAbstracto]

I dunno....will northerner ship to the moon? Hate to cut off my nose to spite my face :lol:

Regular shipments from Sweden will be included in the cost of rent. Air is extra though.

[Soft Morning, City!]

first cigs are targeting children...now this NEW THING(over 200 years old) known as SNUS...is targeting children.....bright colors....hmmm maybe to catch the eyes of potential buyers because who is gonna look at a black tin and say that looks extremely ****ing amazing let me buy that....

Exactly. It's just marketing. Bright, eye-catching packaging is not exclusive to tobacco products. It's everywhere. The whole "targeting children" thing is bullshit when things like the Happy Meal still exist. Total double standard. Greasy hamburger=okay. Tobacco product=holy shit, run the other way, it's evil and it's out to get you!

[fugitiveinkblot]

Well, its the Camel Snus that he's obviously talking about. Thanks a lot RJR, ruin it for the rest of us.

[Skimo]

what a retarded move... better watch out for those village kids huffing gasoline (petrol for you non U.S. residents)

My dad grew up in Bethel... tobacco is by far one of the least dangerous things to be found in small towns.

I think Mr. Herron needs to worry more about keeping the Yupik language alive and keeping subsistance hunting alive.

[Ragnar]

That really doesn't sound like an "Alaska" thing to do. If I were an elected official in Alaska I'd make it a priority to keep the state a last-frontier of personal freedom... and not look for more things to tax/lives to control.

[Daidone]

Blatant nanny state BS. They have laws that prohibit consumption by minors, enforce them. Adults can make their own decisions, we don't need to be protected from ourselves.

[ShaulWolf]

Let's take a look at what else has been deemed bad for you, but is still done in abundance...

Supersized grease laden burgers and whatever else comes from fast food. Nothing done about it.

Pot. Good luck trying to stop it.

Ecstasy. Fail.

Coke/crack. Fail.

Meth. Fail.

Sex. Ultra fail.

Drinking. Ultra fail.

Drinking and driving. Fail.


Nanny state bullshit doesn't work. It's not about the children either, it's about taxing the bloody piss out of something. It's just so much easier to tax something when you can say 'it's for the children'. This bullshit legislation can kiss my hairy ass.