Policing cigarettes

It took decades of scientific and political battles before cigarette makers would admit the obvious: Cigarettes kill people.

[Pete]

Just make it illegal already. Oh wait, that would put an even bigger hole in state budgets from all the missing tax revenue. In that case, just go on passing more feel good laws to pretend we care.

[Michael]

"Now, the concept of tobacco regulation strikes some people as absurd. Here's a product that, when used as directed, kills people. But prohibition is hardly an option. This country has some experience in trying that with alcohol."

If the FDA will be assigned to regulate cigarettes but not ban them outright, the loudest message they will be sending is that cigarettes will now be FDA approved. Am I the only one that senses a potential problem with this?

[Bore]

Pete wrote:

Just make it illegal already.

^ This.

[Thom]

I am so glad the government is there to protect me. My life will be better for it. Giving my tax dollars to grow tobacco is cool too. Such a benevolent group.

[Danforth]

How about the city enforcing the ban on smoking in "waiting areas" by marking the CTA bus shelters as no-smoking?

[zermatt]

Pete wrote:

Just make it illegal already. Oh wait, that would put an even bigger hole in state budgets from all the missing tax revenue. In that case, just go on passing more feel good laws to pretend we care.

You are so correct. Between the federal government and the states there is no incentive to eliminate cigarettes or any other vice, for that matter.

I found it interesting that Quinn wanted to tax beer and wine, but not hard liquor. Don't go taxing his vice.

[SRM LRM]

Conflict of interest: I am a smoker. Yes, I like my addiction.

However. Altria embraces this legislation? Well, duh! It takes heat off of them from lawsuits; if their product is overseen by the FDA, it directly, definitely limits their exposure to lawsuits, which are far, far more costly than any legislation or taxation could ever be on their profits.

Anyone that has a serious interest in this should look at the archives of the Tobacco Institute at http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu ; a careful read of the documents should prove to most people that any time tobacco companies go along with something, they think that it's going to be good for their bottom line.

PS: to the people that think that it should be illegal- that did a lot of good with Prohibition, right? And it's clearly working with illegal drugs, right? The more sensible, sane solution, if you really want to eradicate smoking, is to regulate it heavily, enact more and more onerous regulations, and tax the scheisse out of it. Eventually it will be so difficult to produce and so expensive to use that companies will be forced out of the market.

[Jack]

What's next? Red meat...alcohol...pepsi? This isn't normal, the government should not own all the credit companies, the car industry, and the tobacco industry.

[Poked the Bear]

Jack wrote:

What's next? Red meat...alcohol...pepsi? This isn't normal, the government should not own all the credit companies, the car industry, and the tobacco industry.

Next it's going to be puppies.

[Chicago Tax Payer]

-- Crack down on sales of tobacco to kids. The FDA would work with states to beef up enforcement and could levy its own fines for retailers who sell to kids

It's already illegal to sell to kids, is it not?

I'm all for it, but all I'm seeing is another law which won't/can't be enforced.

[Rob]

Jack wrote:

What's next? Red meat...alcohol...pepsi? This isn't normal, the government should not own all the credit companies, the car industry, and the tobacco industry.

Come back down to earth already.

[you know whati is illegal]

ILLEGALS ARE ILLEGAL IN THIS STATE, BUT DALEY, GUTIERREZ, GOV QUINN, CARDINAL BUTTSTAIN DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS. WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THERE FREE RIDE ! NO ONE DOES ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

[Danno]

The new e-cigarettes seem to be much safer.

There's no secondhand smoke so others aren't affected.

There is no smoke, period. The air that is inhaled is much safer than air froma cigarette.

I have been a thorn in the government's efforts to regulate tobacco-smoking whenever I could. I think I know the anti-smoking mindset. These e-cigarettes will be seen by them as a "bad example" so they will do all they can to stop their use.

Here's some ideas if the FDA regulates tobacco.

1. If the FDA requires pictorial warnings, take steps to cover up the pictures. You do not want to be flashing gross pictures to others while you are out-and-about. Under the holding in Wooley v. Maynard you have a first amendment right to avoid becoming a willing billboard for the government's messages. Forcing you to carry a picture and to display it whenever you want a cigarette would violate your first amendment rights.

2. Grow your own tobacco in your yard or under grow lights indoors. You'll have to cure it, too.

3. Smoke outdoors whenever possible. Think about this. The anti-smokers want to eliminate smoking in movies because they think the example causes kids to start smoking. Yet they tell you to go outdoors to smoke, where kids can see you smoking, when they couldn't see you if you were smoking indoors.

4. Taunt the anti-smokers. For instance, if smoking is banned at a beach, walk a few feet into the water just off the beach and light up. If they ban smoking in vehicles where children are located, buy a doll and a car seat and smoke ostentatiously in your vehicle. Use e-cigarettes to smoke indoors.

5. Punish your state if it passes laws against smokers. Go elsewhere to gamble. Buy your cigarettes in other states. Refuse to patronize restaurants that pay sales taxes in your state. And so on.

P.S. I am a non-smoker, but not an anti-smoker. In fact I am an anti-anti-smoker.

[Butbutbut]

Jack wrote:

What's next? Red meat...alcohol...pepsi? This isn't normal, the government should not own all the credit companies, the car industry, and the tobacco industry.

Actually, I think the FDA does already regulate at least red meat and pepsi because they are foods. Now if you prefer E. coli in your sandwich and amoebic dysentery in your drink, perhaps you should consider a move to, say, Malawi.

[Now]

Now if only the FDA would get the power to regulate pot.

[Tom]

This is America not a Communist Country
If you don't like it don't smoke, drink, eat, use, buy it!
if you do like it then smoke, drink, eat, use, buy it!
But for goodness sake stop making laws to stop personal freedom from doing it, Its my and your life not the governments

[John Birch]

If cigarette smokers don't understand by now, they must be Chicaogoans and therefore: BIG DUMMIES

Really, no more regulation here is needed. The cigarette thing has been beaten to death. Please stop!

I am a non-smoker, but recently I did start puffing on nicotine only E-Cigarettes. Pretty nice.

PLEASE DO NOT REGULATE ME...PLEASE!

[Taryne]

The funny thing is most smokers already know what they are putting inside their bodies

[Danno]

E cigarettes provide a nice option for former smokers. And for current smokers as well.

[Matt Stephens]

I'm still waiting for smoking in homes and vehicles with children to be criminalized.