The Unintended Consequences of Tobacco Laws

[RobsanX]

Perhaps the notion that members of Congress don't read the legislation they vote on is an outside the beltway myth. But if you were asked to vote on tobacco legislation without having the opportunity to read it -- knowing only that the bill was supported by Altria (Philip Morris) and opposed by the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), how would you vote?

I hope you wouldn't vote with Senator Ted Kennedy, whose "Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act " could be a casebook study of the law of unintended consequences.

By treating all tobacco products equally in this bill, Senator Kennedy promotes the fallacy that all tobacco is equally dangerous. Yet smokeless tobacco, which can be used as a method of harm reduction for addicted smokers, is significantly less harmful than smoking cigarettes.


Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-s...c_b_45715.html

We're finally getting some air time!

[Snusdog]

Nice find RobsanX. Unfortunately, it makes way too much sense to be taken seriously by most in Washington

[Sigg]

You know, I didn't think about it until reading that article but they make a good point about the effects of lowering nicotine levels in cigarettes. Most people I've known in the past that have tried to either cut back or quit smoking by switching to ultra light cigs usually end up smoking a shit load more cigarettes to make up for the lack of nicotine.

Not only are they smoking MORE to try and get the same nic level, they are putting way more of the harmful chemicals/additives in their body at the same time.

I really wish you were wrong Snusdog, but I have to agree. Common sense is a rarity in congress.

[snusjus]

If we over-regulate and over-tax tobacco products, the black market for tobacco will grow even larger than it already is. If the PACT Act passes, there will be a black market for snus in America, strikingly similar to the black market for snus in Finland.

[tom502]

I am suprised with all the alcohol advertising on billboards and TV, yet the extreme bans on tobacco. I mean, kids drink more than smoke. What would be better, a bunch of kids in a car with a bottle of whiskey, or a pack of cigs?

[elmos]

Washington=idiots

If you ban these products or over regulate you will be putting many out of work. Places who have people working for them due to inter net sales will cut back. Tax monies will be lost. Companies will fold. Kids who now get health insurance (Ha) will no longer get it. Lets face it, politicians are greedy hypocrites. Period. Over the past ten years I have lost all faith in this gov. They are phonies. I found a product that helps you quit smoking. It worked. They want to ban it. Tobacco companies left the united states because of stupid lawsuits. Juries awarded money to anyone with thier hand out. And we lay there like sheep and take it. You think kids will smoke because they see a picture of a camel smoking? Kids will smoke cigars because the company gave them a free hat? Would you take up doing snuff because they gave you a free can opener? When they wanted to ban flavored cigs, the black caucus told them you cannot ban the use of menthol. They caved, menthol allowed. Aint they worried about the kids? Bullshit! When will we say enough is enough. They work for us. At least in sweden they did research on these products. And I bring it up again Mr. President, I smoked for forty nine years. With the help of SNUS, I quit. I DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. Of course you don't care, you have Walter Reed.
A disgusted fed up citizen