Tobacco mail ban

[snusbear1]

Hi All -

Just had to bring this up. I'm slowly but surely transitioning (yea!) from cigarettes to snus, and am very excited about this upcoming success. BUT, I keep seeing all these references to a mail ban on tobacco products. Am I then to give up hope and resign myself to smoking Marlboros for the rest of my life? Someone please tell me there's hope out there. Thanks.

[cocsp2002]

It's in the Senate right now, and since they aren't currently convened, I don't think that it's going to pass. At least not right now. Also, I've heard some retailers talking about arranging a system for shipping to homes like wine distributors online will ship to homes, but only in specified quantities. I wouldn't worry overmuch about it. If it's that important, it'll come back up in the House when they reconvene in January, and then we'll worry about it, but until then, SnusOn!

[Ainkor]

Swedish Match has some outlets listed in Florida, so you probably would be fine in regards to getting a local supply as long as you like Swedish Match products

Here is a link to the store finder for them:

http://swedishsnus.com/US/storelocator.asp

Here is the skinny on the legislation that would ban the USPS from shipping tobacco products:

Congressman John M. McHugh’s (R-NY) has sponsored a bill called the “Do Not Mail Tobacco Bill” H.R. 5912.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:hr5912:

It has passed the house and is now in the Senate. With everything going on now, it is doubtful that there will be any action on it this year, but it is coming.

The main focus on the bill is to prevent the delivery of tobacco products via USPS. This bill provides civil penalties to anyone who ships tobacco this way. Why was the bill introduced? Well, some stop smoking group got a bunch of kids together in New York and had them order some smokes off of the internet and about 25% of them were actually delivered.

What does this mean for us snusers?

Initially, it will most likely be more expensive to get snus. We will have to resort to domestic suppliers and use UPS or FedEx as the carrier. There have been a few more domestic suppliers that have come on line recently and there are also quite a few domestic smoke shops that are carrying snus now.

Long term outlook?

Well, in my opinion, I foresee a suit being filed by a disabled person who is addicted to tobacco who can no longer get it delivered via regular mail. I would not be surprised if that happened as soon as the Senate passes the bill probably next year.

Other than what I said above, you could be a fatalist and order 2 years of snus and deep freeze it. Might still be good after that long :P

-Ainkor[/url]

[gentlemanly]

I wouldn't be surprised if Swedish Match started opening outlets in most of the states if this goes through.

[RobME]

It must be my lackadaisical (laid back) attitude about this, but I really think many of you are overreacting to this mail ban nonsense. My attitude may be shallow (in some of your eyes), but if and when it happens... I'm certain there will be a way around it.

[TropicalBob]

Focus on two things: What was the intent of the bill? How many supported it?

The intent is to shut down home delivery of tobacco products ordered online. The support in the House was as overwhelming as if it were a bill to condemn child molesters. This anti-tobacco measure will enjoy similar support when the Senate takes it up. "Friends of tobacco" are now relegated to a few paragraphs in 2010 history textbooks.

Yes, Congress is a bit preoccupied now. But the intent and support for future action is clear. If that doesn't bother you, pull your head up and look around. You should be alarmed.

[RobME]

... Congress is a bit preoccupied now. But the intent and support for future action is clear. If that doesn't bother you, pull your head up and look around. You should be alarmed.

As I see it, everything you say is true. But I'm sorry, I just can't be alarmed (and I'm as addicted to nicotine as you are and strongly favor its delivery into my system in a tobacco product). As you succinctly point out, tobacco is anathema, and in my heart of hearts; I know that no amount of writing to my Congressman or Senator will change the inevitable. So... please pardon my reference to this calamity as 'nonsense', as I do take it seriously... but I know that I just can't DO anything about it. I also know that I'll find some way around it to cover my own needs. It's just not something I care to worry or obsess about.

[snusbear1]

... I know that I just can't DO anything about it. I also know that I'll find some way around it to cover my own needs. It's just not something I care to worry or obsess about.

I think that's a good attitude. Reminds me of the old prayer asking for "the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."