Pipes Smokers May Be the Next Target of the FDA

By Kevin Godbee
U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) have sent a letter dated October 14, 2011, to U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, requesting that the agency "move swiftly to issue a strong regulation that would legally treat or deem all tobacco products, including cigars, pipe tobacco, and hookah tobacco and accessories, as subject to the Tobacco Control Act."

This is another case of premium tobacco products, like pipe tobacco, being lumped together with the chemical-laden, highly addictive mass-market cigarettes produced by "Big Tobacco". It’s certainly not the first time a politician made completely misguided, uneducated decision, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. Luckily, some of us are trying to do something to save the premium tobacco market, but we need everyone to act, or you may have to kiss your pipe tobacco goodbye.

In a letter dated October 14, 2011, to U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, requesting that the agency "move swiftly to issue a strong regulation that would legally treat or deem all tobacco products, including cigars, pipe tobacco, and hookah tobacco and accessories, as subject to the Tobacco Control Act."

In addition, the Senators have requested a meeting with Commissioner Hamburg to receive an update on FDA’s progress regarding a possible regulation of other tobacco products and the time frame for the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products to complete this regulation. Click here for the text of the October 14th letter from the three U.S. Senators to Commissioner Hamburg.

We contacted Bill Spann, CEO of The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association for comment, and he had this to say. "The letter is further proof that action is required to ensure passage of H.R. 1639 and S. 1461 by and for everyone who enjoys premium cigars . It should foster a sense of urgency among all IPCPR members and other tobacco retailers and their customers to contact their U.S. Representatives and Senators and ask them to co-sponsor these bills that are designed to protect premium cigars. We must act now, before the process requested by these senators brings our industry down. The clock is running. We urge all pipe smoking enthusiasts and retailers to go to www.IPCPR.org and follow the easy steps to a successful outcome regarding these important bills."

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8 Responses

  • I know it happened a long time ago, but seriously, what is the chances that everyone in government lacks logic and common sense?

  • As a resident of the state of Ohio, I’m going to do everything I can to see that Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) has to find a real job or rather one where he can no longer have an impact on my life our choices. I had the pleasure of meeting Senator Brown a few years back and I dare say the man couldn’t lead a bunch of ants to a picnic yet he was elected to the Senate.
    It’s time we start taking these threats on our freedom of choice personally.

  • Nice article as always — but damned if it isn’t another bout of bad news.
    Well, can’t much be done about it just now — keep to the voting stations and all.
    But remember the smallest, loudest -minority- always wins. . .we have got to figure up some organization thing for tobacco. Frankly I’d rally behind Big Tobacco if those blokes wanted to put someone in the senate directly instead of sticking with bribes and such trash.

  • It’s never ending, the nanny state! I am active politically in the state I live and my voice will be heard, over and over again…

  • I can understand regulations against cigarette tobacco considering all the spiking and other garbage going on. But comparing a good pipe blend or an excellent cigar to cigarettes is like comparing fine brandy to cheap plonk. Still, what can you expect from know-nothing political hacks determined to rule over you “for your own good”?

  • I am so at a loss of words about this I find it funny that these groups dont understand how this works. I can only quote Martin Niemöller i think this sums all this up well.
    When the Nazis came for the communists,
    I did not speak out;
    As I was not a communist.
    When they locked up the social democrats,
    I did not speak out;
    I was not a social democrat.
    When they came for the trade unionists,
    I did not speak out;
    As I was not a trade unionist.
    When they came for the Jews,
    I did not speak out;
    As I was not a Jew.
    When they came for me,
    there was no one left to speak out.

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