Tobacco regulations? I think not.

[Lord Spencer]

To keep it short I believe this: Tobacco will never be banned entirely from the public, like some people want. Why? There are many reasons.
1. Tobacco is too well liked. Despite in recent years that tobacco is considered nasty and harmful ect ect there are way too many people who still use it for it to be taken away entirely, or even restricted in a vast way. The reasons being are that the government runs off of taxes. Tobacco is a HUGE tax area. You think the government likes losing money? (well...you know what I mean right? They like to SPEND it for sure, but they dont want their income touched) which means any laws that go before legislation to be passed to prohibit or even reduce tobacco sales is, well....against their very fiber of being. Also, tobacco prohibiting would hurt the economy. This leads me to the second point.

2. Tobacco provides jobs. The farmers, exporters, importers, retailers, manufacturers, and all other areas where tobacco is handled needs people. Sure machines can do it but come on...people have to do something. Tobacco industries provide alot of jobs for thousands of Americans. Shutting them down would increase the unemployment rate, and once again...decrease the amount of taxes the govs get from INCOME TAX. These workers have to pay it to. So if they have to draw unemployment due tobacco no longer being a legal product, the govs dont get ANY of that income tax anymore. This wont happen.

3. Its a freedom. This is, sadly, the least of the reasons. Freedoms get stripped daily, and I'm sure that those anti-tobacco piles of cartilage will try to get rid of this freedom, but it would be unconstitutional for them to do so. (mush like the health care bill isnt constitutional but whatever...). I doubt this will be enough reason for government people to not pass an anti tobacco bill but, it's still worth noting that it wouldnt be right.

4. Big industry has too much political pull. Look at this last election, alot of big wigs pulled alot of votes because they had the raw money to do so. These big industry people would hate to see such a cash crop vanish, and I dare say they will die before losing a dollar. The very fact Americans spend millions on tobacco each year means that the big industry people will NOT allow that money to vanish. They will use their political pull to ensure that tobacco stays right where it needs to: in the hands of millions of Americans. Now, this isnt the purest of ways to protect something, but if it keeps snus in MY house, I dont care really.

Now, on a side note, I'd like to add that alot of these anti-tobacco piles of dung won't ever admit that they too have "addictions" that are deadly to the human body. Take that leader of an anti tobacco campaign in Indiana, she has to weigh about 500 pounds. Isnt over eating JUST AS IF NOT MORE deadly to your body then, say, smoking? ( I dont smoke but if you do its your freedom, so I support you). So, if she wants to ban tobacco, then as soon as she does lets ban her from eating and see how long she keeps humming her tune.
Also, soda isnt good for you either but we dont see restrictions on it. Yeah sure it might not cause cancer but, it causes alot of other bad health issues. Excessive weight, cholesterol, and not to mention soda has been proven to be an addictive substance AS WELL, and these "oh so poor children" that anti tobacs try to "protect" are allowed as much soda as they can buy. Drinking massive amounts of sugar-laden drinks at an early age will cause obesity early on, which is seldom fixed in America after the age of 15.

Anyway, I had to rant here cause of the anti tobac crap I have been subjected to all day. I would love to hear your comments to my little arrangement here, and any contradictions you may have. Thanks for reading, and please I beg you...keep snusing.

[GoVegan]

I don't think tobacco will be banned but I do thing that the government really likes that fact that most tobacco consumers feel like pariahs. That way they can justify taxing the crap out of us without too many complaints. We are told that we need to pay taxes to help offset the health costs that tobacco users incur yet when we do get sick, it's our own stupid fault for getting addicted and we need to pay the price. Reduced harm does not work well for our government and medical community and is rarely acknowledged or even given any real thought. We are kind of like illegal immigrants in a way. The farmers and manufacturers need a large pool of laborers with vaguely defined rights so they can hire them cheaply. This labor is of tremendous benefit to both the government and the manufacturers so the best option is to act like you are trying to solve the problem while at the same time, you are looking away from it. Our government spends billions on smoking cessation programs designed by so called experts. Yet, I rarely meet an ex smoker who told me it was a commercial or a government sponsored phone counseling program that made quitting for them a reality. It is in governments best interest to ensure that tobacco users have a weak voice while at the same time, extorting every single dollar they can from them. I have also noticed that the government loves to target second hand smoke and sick the FDA on tobacco products but we tend to ignore mainstream food safety and you hear about food born illnesses occurring every day. Also, they love to tell everyone how unsafe 2nd hand smoke is while insisting that the pesticides and other crop they stick in our food and medications now is complete safe.

[Mykislt]

Lord Spencer, you make some very good points.
I am glad to see some positivity around here

[snusjus]

Tobacco will never be illegal (at least in the USA). Too many people use it and the local/state/federal governments heavily rely on tobacco taxes (more than half the profit from a pack of cigarettes goes to the government). However, I can see products and packaging becoming more regulated in the coming years.

As a result of this, be prepared for a massive underground black market for tobacco products. I personally know some people who have "connections" to untaxed cigarettes, but I "forgot" their names, so I won't mention them. In matter of fact, black market cigarette dealers make more money that illicit drug dealers, since they have a larger customer base.

[Kstolen23]

I agree. People that are against tobacco because it is unhealthy generally can't see that everything else around them is killing them and that to remove tobacco products from shelves would definately negatively effect the economy and some people are seriously addicted and would be totally irratical without their nicotine. I just hope they legalize snus in Australia soon. And don't forget about early onset diabetes from over-consumption of sugar products. As for what Snusjus commented, I would totally get into the illigal tobacco business if tobacco became illigal. I could charge heaps for a 'pack' of ciggs and health officials would'nt regulate my produce. Sure that's kinda morally wrong but hey, I aint gona twist peoples arms to buy ma soldiers of death.