The Ban on Clove Cigarettes and the Obvious Act of Protectionism
The Reasons Why Our Government is Really Banning Flavored and Clove Cigarettes
The reason cited for the bill is to discourage underaged smoking. The lawmakers say they feel that flavored cigarettes appeal more to underaged smokers and people who never smoked before. If this is true, then why are menthol cigarettes still legal? Because menthol cigarettes make up about a quarter of $52 billion in annual sales for Phillip-Morris alone. It's pocket change to lobby for this bill to be passed in order to protect their interests. Aside from that, the U.S has their own hind-ends to look after. Even though Congresswoman Virginia Foxx clearly stated that this is a vialation of WTO.
"According to WTO rules...an imported 'good' (clove cigarettes) should receive treatment that is 'no less favorable than that provided to a domestic good.' "
Well now what? The law is passed, and really there isn't much that we can do. Let's just hope the right decisions are made not based on the interests of certain people's wallets. What do you think about the ban? Is it right or wrong? Should the government ban flavored cigarettes, or is this law unethical? Post your comments below. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
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34 Comments
Post a Commentif it is dangerous, why are many sites which sell clove cigarettes like Djarum Black? I found this site djarumclove.com that sells clove cigarettes
If you look at how American and British Tobacco Companies are buying up all the Kretek manufactuers, I have a feeling Cloves will be back soon. They just had to bankrupt them and then buy them out first. Good old American Business tactics.
I'm sorry but banning menthols is just stupid...we i.d. for smokes just like we do for booze.I don't see them pulling raspberry vodka off the shelf because it's flavored!What about alcohol? When i started smoking underage i didn't smoke menthol and neither did any of my friends. The reason African-Americans smoke menthols is because thats who it was marketed to first,it caught on and now its a trend and something thats been passed on.Grandpa & Mom smoked menthols now he smokes them.If they want to pull menthols off the market they need to pull all cigs and while they're at it take booze away too!
It is definitely protectionist. Protecting the interest of american cigarette companies' and their profits. It only hurts those companies when the consumer buys a foreign made cigarette, regardless of its contents.
And kids, wanting to be adults, will do what adults do and what they are exposed to. Smoke, drink, etc (use your imagination) For the life of me, I haven't seen one kid smoke a clove; it was more like the popular brand cigarettes they jacked from their parents. And I dont see many babyboomers smoking cloves.
I think its a BS Ban. Ban all cigarettes if you want to protect the kids. And ban alcohol, and ban carbon emissions, ban those fruity smelly markers you buy for your kids in elementary school... you get the point.
The FDA has overstepped it's authority on this law. Thay have sent warning letters to overseas sites selling cloves and they have ordered that clocves be seized at Customs. This is a serious overstep as the rules only say that cloves cannot be retailed IN the US. An adult ordering online is not covered anywhere in the law. There needs to be a challenge to this from an organization which can afford to do so (ACLU maybe?). The FDA has effectively rewritten the law to cut off all access to cloves in the US despite the fact that no such authority was given to them. From their own warning letter: "As you are not located in the United States, please note that adulterated or misbranded tobacco products offered for importation into the United States are subject to detention and refusal of admission." See here for full letter: http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/ucm189247.htm
well I recieved one order via internet for me and only me and most recent order is now buried in customs for a week am I to expect DEA agents at my house??
I quit smoking a couple of years ago and it was the best thing that I've ever done. I don't understand why it's legal to sell people something that actually kills them slowly; lowering their quality of life, raising health care costs, and bringing more misery into the world. And yet, they're making billions from this and they can basically buy or pay for any legislation that they want.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I love smoking a sweet, sweet clove every once in a while. Now I'll have to go buy clove gum and chew it while I smoke a regular cigarette, but it will never be the same.
Just One more of our civil libertys the government is taking away us. Distorting the truth by hiding behind the children
No, so long as you buy them online AND pay your state cigarette taxes, it's legal to buy them online. If you're 18+, of course.