New Proposed Bill Seeks to Eliminate Online Tobacco Sales

[sablebrush52]

One would hope that it could be argued that pipe tobacco should be treated in the same manner as premium cigars. I find it concerning that pipe tobaccos are never mentioned in any of this and I wonder if there is some nebulous connection being made between pipe smoking and vaping.

 

[ashdigger]

I find it concerning that pipe tobaccos are never mentioned in any of this and I wonder if there is some nebulous connection being made between pipe smoking and vaping

Exactly!!
Where is RYO in this mess?

 

[Chasing Embers]

There's no difference in this newer outlook, it's all tobacco to them. It contains nicotine, burns, "produces chemicals known by the state of California-blah, blah, blah", and is generally frowned upon by the populace.

 

[olkofri]

^^

This. Again. Looks like the Cap'n is on a roll.
Even non-smokers who aren't anti-tobacco wouldn't move a finger to stop this—better things to worry about, yadda, yadda. Worse, a number of smokers with perpetual pangs of guilt support such legislation too.

 

[brian64]

There's no difference in this newer outlook, it's all tobacco to them. It contains nicotine, burns, "produces chemicals known by the state of California-blah, blah, blah", and is generally frowned upon by the populace.

You have to keep this issue separate from the CA state stuff. The "premium" cigar industry does have some pull, and is probably the only reason why internet sales haven't gone away already.
But even at the state level, some states specifically include pipe tobacco in their exemption for on-line sales.
As far as the RYO issue, the same distinction that's being made in those articles between premium cigars and all other cigars is the same distinction that should be made between premium pipe tobacco and RYO.
The only sliver of hope I see at the moment in this is, as I said before, the "IPCPR" includes pipes/pipe tobacco along with premium cigars. But whether pipes are really being represented in the talks at the legislative level I have no idea because as Sable said, it just never seems to get mentioned in these articles
This excerpt is very telling...if premium cigars are that small a percentage, premium pipe tobacco must be nearly non-existent:

“Premium cigars are just 3 percent of the cigar industry and just one half of one percent of the tobacco industry as a whole. We are just a tiny sliver of the tobacco world,” explained Newman. “According to current estimates, it will cost approximately $30 million for our historic Tampa cigar factory to comply with FDA regulation. This is why FDA estimated that regulation would force as much as 50 percent of the cigar industry out of business.”
https://tobaccobusiness.com/rubio-holds-congressional-hearing-on-premium-cigars/

 

[carcosa]

This is lame, I spend about 80 bucks every 3 months on tobacco and thats all i can afford. All the local shops around here sell bongs and cary crap for pipe tobacco. I used to go to a local tobacco shop that was decent but cost 25 bucks for a tin of petersons, now a new owner took over and no selection of pipe tobacco. (smoking some peter stokebey cherry as i write this) i have no tobacco saved excpt for a can of syrian latakia and what i smoke through every few months.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Whether this is passed and/or whether it happens in a month, 6 months, a year or whatever, I believe it is inevitable that State Sales tax will be charged and some States won't allow tobacco products to be sent to their Residents. If smoking were important to me and I lived in one of those States, I'd be considering some alternative workarounds. A cheap MailBoxes Etc. in the nearest town/city in a State near to me. Or an amenable friend who would accept shipments in a State near to me. Inconvenient? Yes. Impossible? No.

 

[didimauw]

Yes it's a good thing I can get Carter Hall at the local grocery store. And I've had gas stations start keeping it in stock for me as well.

 

[hawky454]

Man, I really do feel bad for those who are just now getting into this “hobby” of ours or those who were not fortunate enough to be able to stock up on tobacco. It’s just sad that it’s come to this.

 

[brian64]

Yes it's a good thing I can get Carter Hall at the local grocery store. And I've had gas stations start keeping it in stock for me as well.

They'll come for that too eventually. They want it all.
What they really want is your soul.

 

[didimauw]

Damn, already gave my soul away.... Too bad

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Man, I really do feel bad for those who are just now getting into this “hobby” of ours or those who were not fortunate enough to be able to stock up on tobacco. It’s just sad that it’s come to this.

Me too but when you think about it, it wasn't that long ago that Smoking Pipes, P&C, Tobacco Pipes and all those folks didn't exist on the internet. I remember calling in orders for cigars and pipe tobacco to stores I learned about from other folks. If someone wants something bad enough, they will find it and buy it. Assuming the actual stores are still open for business, if I had to, I'd save up as much money as possible, rent a passenger van or pick up, and drive to one of the big retailers for a major purchase and deliver home myself. It's really only a question of how bad do you want it.

 

[cfreud]

Before we panic — too late, I suppose — can't we be comforted by two realities of our political world? Two Democrats proposed the bill in the House. Ergo, even if it gets out of the House, the Senate ain't going to approve it. If the Democrats like something, the Republicans don't, and vice versa. Seriously, how is this going to get through Congress as a whole? Meanwhile, you have to remember that states, though they pass laws against smoking, still rely on taxation of tobacco. Sin taxes are good revenue sources for federal and state governments. While unpleasant, it's still necessary to keep producing tobacco and have smokers to collect said revenues. Just a few thoughts. Resume panic, if you please.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Sin taxes are good revenue sources

Maybe, although most of them are designed moistly to reduce smokers. But, that means nothing here, because buying tobacco online bypasses all of the sin taxes. It's inevitable. Cigarettes and chewing tobacco and dip are all illegal to ship to residents. I'm not panic'd, because I have seen this coming for a long time. Buy now, buy as much as you can, because the end is near. B&M's are praying this day will come sooner, because it will be our only way to purchase in the future... and the gov can continue to collect their taxes.

 

[daniel7]

One more reason to travel. I do it already, whenever and wherever I travel, I buy enough tobacco (even some local ones) until my next travel.

 

[crazyhog]

I highly doubt that bill will pass as written. That's not to say that a toned down version won't pass in the near future. I'm glad I'm a casual puffer and that a 50 gram tin will last me almost three months. Unfortunately, many fellow pipers go through this amount weekly.

 

[chuckyeageronlsd]

Yet people just roll over an accept it. What happened? I thought this was America. You know that place founded by a bunch of long haired pipe smokers who hated taxes and big government.

 

[warren]

The people do not roll over and accept it. They go out and reelect the same people time and again. A large centralized government is the choice of the people. So, blame your fore-bearers, neighbors and yourself if you do not vote from a position of knowledge.
I believe the country was founded by wealthy, landholding men ... objecting to being taxed without a voice in the Parliament. While I fail to see what the personal habits regarding smoking and hair-style has to to with the current situation, I will point out that many of those people also wore powdered wigs, silk pantaloons and stockings.
It is the people who took a limited government, only certain areas reserved for such governance, the bulk of the control assigned to the individual states, and allowed such, indeed encouraged it, to grow into a large central government. The government didn't do that ... the voters did.

 

[chuckyeageronlsd]

Yeah they do, when was the last pro tobacco demonstration or protest? Something else needs to be done, voting isn't working. We need to protect our right to engage in free enterprise to facilitate our choice to smoke. As far as I'm concerned if my smoking habit hurts no one but myself it's none of their business to regulate.

 

[warren]

No one really cares about you smoking a pipe. It's about tobacco and society. And, interstate commerce, taxes (local and customs duties), whether or not you'll avail yourself of government funded medical moneys (Your neighbors' moneys for all intents and purposes.) should you suffer health problems, etc.
Five guys smoking pipes in front of the local Federal building is hardly gonna draw interest from the media. Well, other than humorous comments. And, the general public simply doesn't accept smoking as socially acceptable. We smokers are on the losing side of that issue. Even many of the members here acknowledge smoking is not efficacious nor defensible. All we smokers really have going for us is that it is pleasurable. Hardly a defense which can be used to combat all of the negatives attached to tobacco use.
As to various government interests in your smoking. They have a vested interested in you and your tobacco related products. You do rely on the government to see that you get your product when you order. You rely on various government agencies to insure that you are not "ripped off" when buying either mail order or in person. You rely on the government to have trade rules and treaties in place so you may purchase purchase imported tobaccos, pipes and other paraphernalia. Then there are the various agencies overseeing the raising of the leaf and production of the blends you smoke and, the working conditions of those who are in the chain. If you have a loved one close by to call emergency services (tax payer funded) should you suffer a stroke or other malady which can be attributed to smoking ... well, there is another reason for "government" to take an interest. Sure, some of the relationships cited above are tenuous but, they all form part of the basis to have an interest in your smoking and are used to justify the various, often intrusive regulations.
All life is politics and we smokers do not have the clout to stem the tide of the electorate. They have spoken, loudly and the people we elect to make the rules have heard.