Bill Passes House to BAN ALL Tobacco through the mail!!!!

[Mr. Unloadingzone]

According to this article (I shrunk it to a tinyurl):
http://tinyurl.com/6k9ha3

The US House overwhelmingly passed a bill making it a felony to ship ALL tobacco products including smokeless through the mail. Fedex, DHL, UPS, etc. have agreed to abide by it. It is targeted at internet sales of any type of tobacco product.

Why? TAX MONEY. NY complained they lose $1BB in tobacco tax revenue...of course they do: they charge $2.75 a pack in taxes: the highest in the nation.

This effects ALL tobacco sales including snus. How are we going to get our Swedish Snus into the country now????? Hello Camel Frost? I'll shoot myself first.

Only 12 on the House voted against it. It goes to the Senate next...think they're going to vote it down? Or the next President?

We're all screwed and Big F----g American Tobacco with their crap products wins again.

[mercvrivs]

Overall, it seems like they're mostly concerned with cigarettes. The article also conveys the impression that they will focus on taxing and age-verifying tobacco purchased over the internet. However, the part that is scary and seems to contradict this is quoted below:

"Tobacco as Non-Mailable Matter: Makes cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and roll-your-own tobacco products non-mailable matter through USPS. While FedEx, UPS and DHL have agreed not to ship cigarettes and other tobacco products, USPS has continued to deliver tobacco products bought over the Internet."

Anybody have more info on the supposed UPS agreement to not mail tobacco?

By the way, here's the full text of the bill: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill...bill=h110-4081

[bondzai]

looks to me only if its in violation of the state tax law and you can sign for tobacco if you are legal age. .... but if you are right, I guess its longhorn for me....

[mercvrivs]

Check out the exemptions section; cigars are exempt...

[bondzai]

can you cut cigars up and snus them?

[mercvrivs]

No, but think about why they would be exempt.

How are we going to get our snus?

What confuses me is that the proposed bill seems to indicate on one hand that deliverers can ship tobacco to people if the applicable taxes have been paid and their age verified, but then it simultaneously states that tobacco is non-mailable matter.

[bondzai]

going to have to make it. where's that guy who was going to teach us how? the guy from gotlandsnus

[Xobeloot]

I just got a delivery this past saturday and another one on it's way. Will be interesting to see how this pans out.

[mercvrivs]

I think it has to wait for something like 90 days after it's passed to take effect.

[TropicalBob]

Look at this as a Red Flag warning for the future. This measure overwhelmingly was approved in the House, but still faces debate in the Senate before it can be sent to the (next) President.

It's all about Follow the Money.

If Internet sales of tobacco are stopped, local shops will be the sole source for tobacco products, and all taxes will be collected. That's really what this is about. Not health or keeping tobacco away from kids. Those are smoke screens whenever such laws are proposed.

After it is finally approved -- and it no doubt will be -- we will all have 90 days to stock up before becoming reliant on the local tobacco store.

For me, I lose some snus. Nothing more from Northerner or Buysnus. But I can still buy the General and CatchDry at my local store. I'm sure Skoal Snus will be on shelves before long. I can buy Stonewall and nasal snuff locally. So it's not The End of Tobacco. It just limits the choices we presently have -- and likely will increase the retail costs.

And, yes, cigars can be sliced into very tasty pieces to place between cheek and gum. Just use a cigar cutter.

[CWC]

If I have too, I guess I can use Redman chew, I've used it before and in small amounts after about 15 minutes I don't spit any more. However, I will be trying to find a loop hole somewhere if this becomes law. Don't like general loose much but I can get it if I drive a bit. V2 if you are listening start selling in the US please.
Maybe we can get some of our Euro members to ship to us labling it as food additives or something :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

[bakerbarber]

Wow tyranny sucks. I sent swedish match an email asking them to expand their distribution of snus. I'd rather have their products than none at all. I might snap without skruf stark loose. Who knows it may not pass. Very interesting that cigars will be exempt. Guess the ****ing fat cats don't want to impact their own vices.

[bmwgsa]

I guess the good news is that the Senate is supposed to recess for the rest of the year on Sept 20th. If they do that, then it won't go to vote until after the first of the year....

[Mongrul]

I'm so pissed I can't see straight right now. I just found snus, it's working for me like nothing else has to help me get off of a 30 year smoking habit, and now the libs in congress are going after MY ****ING MONEY AGAIN!! And of course, conservatives don't have a choice this year, so who ever get's in the White house will sign this rotten socialist piece of shit bill and we'll lose another freedom, the freedom to do business with other countries offering legal, and better, products, so the scum sucking commies in the government can get their hands on more of my dough while taking advantage of the scourge that is nicotine! Yes, I said it, SCOURGE, we love it because we're addicts....so what?? They are filthy whores....Rope, Tree, Politicians......some assembly required!! (and soon if they keep this shit up)
Free people should have the right to order and use legal products whenever, and wherever they want while paying a fair price based on competitive market rates without unfair and debilitating taxes and government regulation. Period...

Not to get too political or anything.... But DAMNIT, this SUCKS :evil:
I'd expect people here to be a hell of a lot more PISSED OFF.

Alright my Swedish friends, how are we going to get around this socialist/communist bullshit? Start stuffing teddy bears with our rolls? Figure it out, and get back to me. Because scourge or not, I love my snus, American versions suck, and I want YOURS at a fair price (What I'm paying now....seems fair)!!!

[lxskllr]

I could always get into the import foods business. Fly to Sweden once a year, and have a pallet of canned...er.. herring shipped back to the USA for my "store" ;^)