Jun
24
More information to follow.
In response to El Meester’s comment about the first version of this post, yes I did feel it was ridiculous that only now was the Food and Drug Administration able to regulate the tobacco industry. In my mind, cigarettes and other forms of tobacco should have been one of the first things the FDA would choose to regulate upon its founding in 1906. On the other hand, this is America! They took our jobs! THETUKRJUBZ! When the government starts taking away choices from adults as to what they can put in their own bodies, in their own homes, I start to worry. Do you like rolling your (illegal) marijuana in a grape blunt for an extra little yummyness? That just might not be possible under this new legislation. Don’t worry though Newport fans, menthol is still allowed.
The new ban on candy- and fruit-flavored cigarettes isn’t expected to have a big financial impact. Menthol cigarettes are initially exempt from the ban because of demands from the Congressional Black Caucus. About 75% of African-American smokers buy menthol brands.
I did not write that previous paragraph, I found it in a article online. Seriously, the Congressional Black Caucus. Flavors no longer permitted in cigarettes include, but are not limited to: strawberry, orange, clove, cinnamon, pineapple, vanilla, coconut, licorice, cocoa, chocolate, cherry, and coffee. I understand the point about kids being enticed by these delicious candy-like flavors. Babies should not smoke. I’ve always said that, and I stick with my statement.
Now cigarette packs can’t say “Light,” “Ultra Light,” “Mild” (sorry, Tiff), or “Low Tar” anymore. So what? People know cigarettes are bad for a human’s health. They know a Malboro Light isn’t healthier than a Malboro. (Reds are the choice of many SwaggerToothers. Very tasty.)
Most of the tobacco industry, not surprisingly, opposed the bill. Philip Morris, the USA’s largest tobacco maker, supported it. Philip Morris also helped author the legislation. Interesting. With the ban on “new” tobacco products and various other elements of the bill, critics say it gives Philip Morris (and its 50% market share) an unfair advantage.
Apparently, the bill will give the FDA the authority to lower nicotine levels in cigarettes. What is a smoker to do? Smoke more cigarettes. If the gin industry were forced to lower the alcohol level in gin, I’d drink more gin.
Don’t get me wrong, I fully believe that the FDA should have regulatory control over tobacco, it’s just that some things about this bill don’t sit right with me. The surgeon general declared tobacco was carcinogenic in 1964 and addictive in 1988. Some people smoke anyway. Smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em! (Before it’s too late.)
I think I might go stock up on grape blunts for next February.
4 Responses to “Fascism”
Fascist? I thought just last night you were saying it was bullshit that FDA hasn’t had control on tobacco in the first place. No?
By El Meester on Jun 24, 2009
I hear you, I hear you. But our government is doing exactly what a “government” is supposed to do: GOVERN. Yeah, I’m okay with them telling us exactly how tobacco will be marketed to us Americans when that same government is going to be taking care of/paying the bills for us when we’re dying in the hospital of lung cancer. (At least, that’s what Obama/Democrats want. And that, clearly, is a whole nutha issue.) Look, we know cigarettes are bad. The government knows it. Everyone knows it. It’s no lie that nicotine is a drug. With that said, I think most smokers need to quit bitching and take this new bill in stride. Trust me, the only other option for the government would be to BAN nicotine products altogether, and then what do you have? People going to jail for smoking a cigarette in public. Which leads to my next point. Once the government legalizes marijuana, watch out. These same kind of bills will be proposed/passed dealing with the THC levels and marketability of marijuana products. We can’t have it both ways…
And now the tone of SwaggerTooth.com has officially become way too serious.
CBC and their menthols exemption: You can’t make this shit up. Seriously. Maybe to avoid all this mess, young and impressionable smokers should have formed a “caucus” to keep their flavors. Hah.
To all the other tobacco companies mad at Philip Morris: Maybe you guys should stop tricking kids into buying your products. It sounds like the government just wants us to buy good-ole-fashioned, classicly-bad-for-you, straight-up cigarettes. Philip Morris has perfected that. Catch up.
By El Meester on Jun 24, 2009
PS: Those fascist warning signs are sounding familiar. I’m looking at you, Iran.
By El Meester on Jun 24, 2009
I do like grape. What am I supposed to sprinkle on top of the grav now?
By Dem David Dem on Jun 26, 2009