Are there Any Proud Smokers Among Snus Users?

[lxskllr]

What are “fire-safe” cigarettes?

As a result of legislation in an increasing number of states, we have created Natural American Spirit FSC (Fire Standards Compliant) cigarettes, which use a special cigarette paper to meet several states performance standards for ignition propensity. But remember, FSC cigarettes are NOT “fire safe” and need the same careful attention and handling as any other cigarette. Any burning cigarette can ignite materials if handled carelessly.

We use a modified paper and, in some cases, a modified filter, to adhere to FSC requirements. Our tobacco remains unchanged and still 100% additive-free.

As of October, 2009, we will distribute FSC cigarettes for sale in all states.

http://www.sfntc.com/FAQ/Overview.aspx#3

[Snusmun]

And there it is. Wow. You know, I'm really glad I stopped smoking. Not even American Spirit escaped this nonsense.

I wonder if they are applying this law to cigarette papers as well....then even the rollies and spliffs would suck.

I just looked at the FSC website and apparently this law has been in effect in California since 2007. Seems I've been smoking these for the last three years and never noticed. I feel like a tard.

[LHB]

All Natural American Spirits are now Fire Safe Cigarettes, as are all other factory made cigarettes that I've used. The paper is treated in certain spots with a vinyl-like chemical that retards combustion (you'll sometimes see the places in which they're treated referred to as "speed bumps"). They really suck, and the FSC paper is harder on the body and makes everything taste worse. The FSC stamp will either be on above or below the bar code in the whitened section of the pack, or in the case of NAS's, slightly below and to the left of the bar code. I never got around to getting the RYO tobacco because I felt like shit all day.

My rant above was definitely fueled by alchohol, although I've drank more in an evening. It reminded me of the iron law of hangovers.

A Hangover is 1/3 too much alcohol, 1/3 too little sleep, and 1/3 too many cigarettes.

[texasmade]

F-ire
S-safe
C-igarette


= Fail

also known as Reduced Ignition Propensity (RIP) cigarettes.
from the fire safe cig wiki page


RIP...such a fitting abbreviation considering

“The Harvard School of Health reported that when comparing NY Cigarettes (FSC) versus Regular Cigarettes, the FSC cigarettes produced 13.9% more Naphthalene and 11.4% more carbon monoxide than regular cigarettes. Naphthalene is commonly found in moth balls, and exposure in high amounts can result in headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, malaise, confusion, anemia, jaundice, convulsions, and coma. Therefore, it has been proven that FSC cigarettes contain higher levels of chemicals that are harmful to smokers.”

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-1...cker-than-ever

[BadAxe]

And there it is. Wow. You know, I'm really glad I stopped smoking. Not even American Spirit escaped this nonsense.

I wonder if they are applying this law to cigarette papers as well....then even the rollies and spliffs would suck.

I just looked at the FSC website and apparently this law has been in effect in California since 2007. Seems I've been smoking these for the last three years and never noticed. I feel like a tard.

The FSC thing happened so fast, which is why I had a problem with it. It was a state to state thing, but at the end of 2009 all states went FSC. When my newports went FSC, I did not even realise it, except that I noticed how much smoking a cig now made me feel like crap, and I didn't know why. My chest hurt, I got stabbing pains. Then I learned of FSC, saw the FSC marking on my newports, and looked it up. I saw how many other people felt like crap as well.

I ordered my cigs online at carolinacartons after that because they still had non-fsc newports. But now, no one in the US has non FSC cigs, and no brands are expempt.

And the "make your own" cig tubes are not FSC. I tried the whole make your own. Even found a tobacco that I could like. But I smoke way too much. For me to make my 30-40 cigs a day took me like an hour and a half. I just could not see putting that kind of time in everyday to make my smokes.

Now i don't have to worry about it.

[Snusmun]

My chest hurt, I got stabbing pains. Then I learned of FSC, saw the FSC marking on my newports, and looked it up. I saw how many other people felt like crap as well.

Well this is indeed what was happening to me over the last couple of years, and one of the many reasons I decided to quit. I was having weird chest pains, despite having a relatively healthy heart. It may be coincidence, but maybe not....very, very interesting.

Now i don't have to worry about it.

Amen to that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[burningcow422]

I still smoke and the last thing I want to do is piss people off. It just kind of happens regardless of that lol. OH WELL!

[LHB]

My wavering notwithstanding, I'm still going to go out and get some RYO tobacco to see what a real cigarette still tastes like. I suspect that one of the reasons I felt so shitty today was that I smoked a bunch of Kools last night. Even with the FSC thing, NAS don't make you feel nearly as bad as crappy normal commercial brands do.

I use a ribbon roller and zig zag 1's. RYO's should not be filtered, and that being the case, I can't imagine wanting more than 2-3 of them per day (as long as I can continue to get snus and nasal snuff, which is far from assured). As far as quality of life and longevity goes, my quality of life stinks when I can't get my mind off of how other people are trying to control my life.

Snus is great, but remember, in the eyes of the anti-tobacco gestapo, if you're a snus user, you're still just as "addicted" as you ever were. And in the eyes of Big Tobacco, it's even worse. So guess what's in store for ex-smokers who are still using tobacco? I'd prefer to stick with snus and nasal snuff, but it's a lot easier to roll your own than to make your own snuff or snus. I'm just trying to get ahead of the curve.

[Snusmun]

Dude it sounds like you're just having a ruff weekend. No need to justify it to yourself....enjoy some cigarettes! Life is short anyways. Most important thing is to not let smoking affect your quality of life. So for goodness sake enjoy, but do me a favor, don't let it affect your amazing athletic ability and running routine!! I'm inspired by that.

I can't stand being controlled either by the gov or anti smoking propaganda....but I also can't stand being controlled by corporate smucks, like those from RJR and PM...

[Snusmun]

Speaking of anti smoke fascists. A few years ago I took a position at a new company....a new job. A few weeks later I'm sitting talking with the owner/ceo alone, and he tells me that he is not sure he wants me to work for him since I smoke. (I think someone told him). So I say, tough shit, it's none of your business what I do on my own time with my own life, and if you don't like it, fire me. Man that pissed me off something fierce. Well he learned to live with it, but that was a really good hint of the A-HOLE that he was. In retrospect I wish I would have lit a smoke in his office, taken a few long deep drags, blown the smoke in his face and put it out on his big damn wooden desk and walked the hell out for good..... Good 'ol hindsight...

[Karanya]

I still smoke anywhere from one cigarette to half a pack a day. Down from 2+ packs a day and I'm happy at this level. My only goal in switching (mostly) to snus and snuff was to cut down on costs and I've certainly done that.

As for FSC, there's a lot of "information" out there, some of which is about as accurate as fiberglass in snus. Most FSC have an extra band or two of paper at strategic points to make them go out if dropped/left unsmoked for a while. Possibly some extra glue but IMO, if there's any health effects from this... really, they're negligible.

American Spirit cigarettes have some of the highest tar and TSNA levels of any cigarette around. Nothing wrong with being suspicious of additives (which, BTW, Philip Morris and probably other cigarette companies post on their website just like Swedish Match does for snus) but again, there's a lot of paranoia and "information" floating around that really are about like the fiberglass in snus thing. The big difference is that we trust the snus companies and not the cigarette companies. Additives are put into cigarettes for the **same reasons** additives are in snus -- to improve flavor and to increase the amount of available nicotine. In fact, the list of additives are almost identical between the two products. The big difference is that we're not quite sure what happens when those additives are combusted... but then again, tobacco is pretty bad itself when combusted.

I, too, find FSCs less enjoyable (mostly cause I'm a slow smoker and don't like 'em going out halfway through). I avoid the issue entirely by buying my favorite (and not FSC) cigarette of all -- Pall Mall Superslim Blue, available at your favorite Ukrainian dealer for about $25 a carton shipped. (Getting slapped with a big tax bill isn't a risk when buying overseas, since the Ukraine doesn't report to U.S. authorities, but there is a small risk of seizure buying this way. Buying online from American Indian reservations can land you with a big fat tax bill, however, so be careful.)

--K

[sagedil]

(which, BTW, Philip Morris and probably other cigarette companies post on their website just like Swedish Match does for snus)

Just to be very clear here. Swedish Match IS a cigarette company. Sure they make snus too, but they are just as much as a cigarette company as RJR or anyone else. I always laugh so hard soda comes out of my noise when I see folks talking about Swedish Match like they are somehow a sweet, good, benevolent company. Swedish Match is as big tobacco as anyone else.

[LHB]

As for FSC, there's a lot of "information" out there, some of which is about as accurate as fiberglass in snus. Most FSC have an extra band or two of paper at strategic points to make them go out if dropped/left unsmoked for a while. Possibly some extra glue but IMO, if there's any health effects from this... really, they're negligible.

American Spirit cigarettes have some of the highest tar and TSNA levels of any cigarette around. Nothing wrong with being suspicious of additives (which, BTW, Philip Morris and probably other cigarette companies post on their website just like Swedish Match does for snus) but again, there's a lot of paranoia and "information" floating around that really are about like the fiberglass in snus thing.
--K

The article cited below suggests that FSC's may be considerably more dangerous than otherwise identical non FSC cigarettes, and that no one really has any idea regarding the long term consequences of smoking them. It's not a "fiberglass in snuff" kind of urban legend; The Harvard School of Health is not some 16 year old kid fanning conspiracy theories on the internet. American Smokers are being used as guinea pigs in a sick lab experiment based on dealing with a non-existent problem (an outbreak of smoker caused fires). And everybody is just treating this as business as usual. What if they started adding Carb Blockers to beer to cut down on beer induced obesity?

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-1...cker-than-ever

[BadAxe]

I still smoke anywhere from one cigarette to half a pack a day. Down from 2+ packs a day and I'm happy at this level. My only goal in switching (mostly) to snus and snuff was to cut down on costs and I've certainly done that.

As for FSC, there's a lot of "information" out there, some of which is about as accurate as fiberglass in snus. Most FSC have an extra band or two of paper at strategic points to make them go out if dropped/left unsmoked for a while. Possibly some extra glue but IMO, if there's any health effects from this... really, they're negligible.

American Spirit cigarettes have some of the highest tar and TSNA levels of any cigarette around. Nothing wrong with being suspicious of additives (which, BTW, Philip Morris and probably other cigarette companies post on their website just like Swedish Match does for snus) but again, there's a lot of paranoia and "information" floating around that really are about like the fiberglass in snus thing. The big difference is that we trust the snus companies and not the cigarette companies. Additives are put into cigarettes for the **same reasons** additives are in snus -- to improve flavor and to increase the amount of available nicotine. In fact, the list of additives are almost identical between the two products. The big difference is that we're not quite sure what happens when those additives are combusted... but then again, tobacco is pretty bad itself when combusted.

I, too, find FSCs less enjoyable (mostly cause I'm a slow smoker and don't like 'em going out halfway through). I avoid the issue entirely by buying my favorite (and not FSC) cigarette of all -- Pall Mall Superslim Blue, available at your favorite Ukrainian dealer for about $25 a carton shipped. (Getting slapped with a big tax bill isn't a risk when buying overseas, since the Ukraine doesn't report to U.S. authorities, but there is a small risk of seizure buying this way. Buying online from American Indian reservations can land you with a big fat tax bill, however, so be careful.)

--K

Look at any FSC cig and you can see its not an extra band of paper added. You can see the chemical rings up and down the cig paper. You can say its just glue, but it has totally changed the taste of a cig, and totally changed the way a cig makes me feel. This is not just a "mental" thing, because when I first noticed the difference (and the pains) I did not even know about FSC, or what it was. I had a smoke and said "Dear Lord, what happened to my smokes". No, FSC is more than added paper, and what is added is not good.

I also purchase my wife's cigs from the Ukraine. And you do have to worry. I know of 4 people who ordered from oversea's just as I do, and they got caught and got slapped with mega customs and fed taxes when they were busted. So it can happen. I still order because its $40 less a carton, thats just too much savings to pass up. When I smoked, I wished they had menthol, but every menthol they carried is listed fulltime as "out of stock" so I could never purchase my cigs from them. But yea, just a word of warning, you can get caught.

[Snusmun]

I can only speak for myself, but I certainly don't "trust" Swedish Match. But I definitely distrust them less than the big american tobacco companies. You'd be hard pressed to find more historically greedy, manipulative, and deceptive corporations than RJR and PM....with the possible exception of Enron. (edited to add in Goldman Sachs and the Federal Reserve :twisted: )

Reading some of those links on FSC makes me now understand some of the weird stuff that was happening with my cigarettes. Cherries falling out and weird sparking from time to time. All makes sense now. I can't believe they are using carpet glue (well actually I can). Uggh.

What if they started adding Carb Blockers to beer to cut down on beer induced obesity?

Now you've done it! I sure hope there are no politicians on this board...I wouldn't put it past 'em.