US Congress at it again

[gkallos]

Seems like the US Congress is attacking the cigar consumer once again. The lobbyists must be really dishing out the money even after having their PR campaign promoted by commercials and anti-smoking stickers. 
 

https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/anti-smoking-bill-that-would-ban-catalog-and-internet-sales-of-tobacco-passes-subcommittee?utm_campaign=CA_alert_antismokingbill_111319&utm_source=CA_alert_antismokingbill_111319&utm_medium=email&utm_content=3e3a8a8d5be2a7d658a5d1efeef5fa7b

[bpm32]

It’s called the “Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019”. Just read that a few times and think about it. It’s like, we can reverse the epidemic of young tobacco in our lifetimes, folks. What’s not to like?

[Ritch]

33 minutes ago, bpm32 said:

It’s called the “Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019”. Just read that a few times and think about it. It’s like, we can reverse the epidemic of young tobacco in our lifetimes, folks. What’s not to like?

To combat the depravity of young tobacco will only take time...

But other than saying that I'm skirting round the entire elephant in the room that is US politics...

I have some cigars I want to buy over Christmas....

[Islandboy]

Where there’s big money to be had, some will circle, like vultures. But it also sounds like there’s an open door for cooler heads to prevail. At the same time, many of us in the US bemoan the loss of yet another local B&M...seems to me they would welcome such legislation. As usual, this is more complex an issue than it seems. 

[Mikeltee]

May I suggest that the OP be edited to remind us all that US Polictal debates are a bannable offense? The comments on CA have gotten pretty bad... and hilarious. Love the nazi one. Lol

 

Anyways... there is a youth nicotine epidemic. Geeks, stoners, jocks, goth, etc are ALL vaping. My kids are in high school and they dont know one person who does not vape those Juul pod things. None of these kids smoke. They all consider it disgusting. No where in the article is vape juice mentioned which is the problem. It says tobacco products. I believe nicotine is made in a test tube but I could be wrong. This would be a loophole. When I vaped a couple years ago I did need to send the big companies a copy of my ID. They can easily require one to show id to the postman. It's not free however but better than a blanket ban. Alcohol is still legal. Why isnt anyone going after that?

[THEMISCHMAN]

Alcohol is still legal. Why isnt anyone going after that?

Hmmm.. does 1920 ring a bell?

[Colt45]

59 minutes ago, Mikeltee said:

Alcohol is still legal. Why isnt anyone going after that?

Probably the same reason all tobacco products are not banned outright: $$$$$

[MooseAMuffin]

1 hour ago, Mikeltee said:

Alcohol is still legal. Why isnt anyone going after that?

Good Lord, man. Don't give them any ideas.

[Mikeltee]

I didnt mean to come off as a proponent to prohibit liquor. I'm all for gov minding their own business like fixing potholes and bridges. I just think it's crazy that alcohol is the #1 killer in this country yet they mention and ban everything else. People need to step up and take responsibility for their own actions and the actions of their family. This country has a bad habit of labeling irresponsibility as "a disease" which is beyond our control.

[Capt. Corona]

I now pay taxes on most internet cigar purchases. ?  Now they want to take away my right to buy them in my underwear? Good Lord, what could possibly be next?  Building a wall between two countries that do millions, if not billions, of dollars of business annually?

But I digress.....it just burns my bottom to no end when I have to clean up the mess of premium cigar butts those darn 13 and 14 yr olds leave on the street corner every night. ?

[Cigar Surgeon]

I'd say the US will have flavored tobacco bans at the state level in the majority of states before the end of 2020. Federal age increase to tobacco to 21 will probably arrive before 2021, and as a part of that I'm anticipating either a significant tax increase at the Federal level, and / or Federalized workplace smoking bans.

 

[gkallos]

May I suggest that the OP be edited to remind us all that US Polictal debates are a bannable offense? The comments on CA have gotten pretty bad... and hilarious. Love the nazi one. Lol
 
Anyways... there is a youth nicotine epidemic. Geeks, stoners, jocks, goth, etc are ALL vaping. My kids are in high school and they dont know one person who does not vape those Juul pod things. None of these kids smoke. They all consider it disgusting. No where in the article is vape juice mentioned which is the problem. It says tobacco products. I believe nicotine is made in a test tube but I could be wrong. This would be a loophole. When I vaped a couple years ago I did need to send the big companies a copy of my ID. They can easily require one to show id to the postman. It's not free however but better than a blanket ban. Alcohol is still legal. Why isnt anyone going after that?

I’m so sorry! I was bringing it up only because it could effect us buying cigars on the internet and/or receiving them in the mail.

[BrightonCorgi]

Tobacco smoke in general is smelly and most see it as a horrible habit so there is never any push back on tobacco laws; warranted or not.  Kids know tobacco in its most recognized formats (cigs, cigars, etc...) are bad.  I don't think we need to combat that more than it is. 

I am for letting people make bad choices with the life and health, but...

Vaping on the other hand...  Needs more regulation.  I heard on the radio the other day, you can get meth in vap pens now.... Yikes.

[SCgarman]

1 hour ago, gkallos said:

I’m so sorry! I was bringing it up only because it could effect us buying cigars on the internet and/or receiving them in the mail.

No need to apologize. The potential legislation could affect thousands of jobs related to internet cigar commerce in the states, the companies, employees the whole shmear. Let's hope this whole thing fizzles. Of course this will not affect Cuban cigar vendors abroad from shipping boxes to the USA. They have no liability in doing so. The liability falls upon the buyer. 

[Cairo]

This will probably fizzle--this time.

But it is likely to happen in the medium term.    

I haven't seen the magic two words yet.....

So everyone needs to write this on the blackboard a hundred times as punishment:

Stock up (on your favorite smokes).

Stock up.

Stock up.

Stock up.

[El Presidente]

On 11/15/2019 at 6:19 AM, NYgarman said:

 Of course this will not affect Cuban cigar vendors abroad from shipping boxes to the USA. They have no liability in doing so. The liability falls upon the buyer. 

Not so fast sunshine 

You may find that shipping companies will take a different view. 

[wineguy]

 

3 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

I heard on the radio the other day, you can get meth in vap pens now.... Yikes.

Heroin...... 

https://www.wdtv.com/content/news/2-high-school-students-hospitalized-after-overdosing-on-heroin-laced-Vape-Pens-564245011.html

 

[LordAnubis]

12 hours ago, MooseAMuffin said:

Good Lord, man. Don't give them any ideas.

Alcohol has no requirement for me... so throw it to the dogs and leave cigars alone I say ??

[PigFish]

Liberalism strikes again.

When government sticks its nose into healthcare, this is what you get. Instead of using a safer US product, lets just drive it underground and foster the black market... Brilliant!

Please take note of those driving the bill and ones like it. Vote them out. Vote tobacco... Vote freedom!

Man, my country is f'd up! Legalize pot so kids can fry their brains with it (and frankly I don't care about who uses it) and lets ban everything else from straws to big gulps!

Ban the government monopoly. Break up government!!! Viva freedom!

-the Pig

[Str8BlkCoffee]

18 hours ago, Mikeltee said:

May I suggest that the OP be edited to remind us all that US Polictal debates are a bannable offense? The comments on CA have gotten pretty bad... and hilarious. Love the nazi one. Lol

 

Anyways... there is a youth nicotine epidemic. Geeks, stoners, jocks, goth, etc are ALL vaping. My kids are in high school and they dont know one person who does not vape those Juul pod things. None of these kids smoke. They all consider it disgusting. No where in the article is vape juice mentioned which is the problem. It says tobacco products. I believe nicotine is made in a test tube but I could be wrong. This would be a loophole. When I vaped a couple years ago I did need to send the big companies a copy of my ID. They can easily require one to show id to the postman. It's not free however but better than a blanket ban. Alcohol is still legal. Why isnt anyone going after that?

My son is a senior in HS and he says the exact same thing. He cannot walk into the bathroom without 20+ students saying, "Doood, Lemme hit your Juuul." No one he knows smokes either. It stinks, it is expensive, and not popular as @Mikeltee stated. While one is required to show ID to buy Vape juice and the apparatus (aka Mod devices) there are many convenience stores that do not care and only want to make a sale. Plus, they are not cigarettes or dip so the general public has no real concern.

It is the whole mind set that the Govt needs to save one from themselves. Added it is a familiar drum to beat to help keep them in office. Most people know that tobacco in various forms is bad for oneself. Those who do not partake will lump all tobacco products into the same bin and say chuck it because it is bad we do not need it. Trying to change public opinion otherwise in regards to Cigars and Pipe tobacco will be a monumental feat. 

[medzikone]

Few years back we had a plague of quasi-drugs here. No one knew what it was but kids could buy them easly. Of course they should be +18 but still. Suddenly the govt decide to cut this bs and banned this quasi-drugs. 

Then I had conversation with my friend who is daughter of one of our former minister in that govt. She told me that you need to protect your citizens in that way because the majority part of GDP is their work. These poor people from lowest class.

Your govt knows better. Smart people will find the way to buy it anyway. Here in Poland, because of those e-cigarettes you can buy cigars online only if you are self-employed or have your own business. This is a proof you are +18.

[Bagman]

My state, Oregon, is looking into legalizing heroin.   But Cigars,  well, Cigars are bad for you.?

[PigFish]

5 hours ago, Monterey said:

My state, Oregon, is looking into legalizing heroin.   But Cigars,  well, Cigars are bad for you.?

... that has got to be one of the damned dumbest things I have heard this week! God help us!

Tobacco bad, heroin good! Christ!!!

-the Pig

[wineguy]

10 hours ago, medzikone said:

Your govt knows better. Smart people will find the way to buy it anyway. Here in Poland, because of those e-cigarettes you can buy cigars online only if you are self-employed or have your own business. This is a proof you are +18.

We already have a system for that... I have a fair amount of wine shipped to me and the law requires the shipper to receive a signature from someone over 21.

[Schumi5]

I've long given up trying to understand the actions of most governments but got to say the ban on internet sales seems like a real head scratcher even by their low standards.  Got to think it is somewhat intended to prevent it from getting in the hands of the underaged, but as mentioned, there are so many proven ways to get around this.  Alcohol, and here in Canada, marijuana would be items with similar restrictions which are all offered online with minimal issues.  In fact, the marijuana trade is actually government controlled here and they themselves sell online.  Absolutely detest big government and their overreach and hope this one gets the pushback it deserves and is killed instantly.  Truly cannot think of any industry that is under attack each and every day the way the cigar industry is. Here in Canada, we have legalized marijuana, provide safe injection sites for heroin users yet punish cigar smokers at every turn.