So, Honestly, When Is "Soon"?

[zonomo]

The Tobacco Tax Equity Act of 2013 is on the table. Here is one of the clauses according to information I read on the 'net.

Raise the pipe tobacco rate by almost 800%, from $2.83 per pound to $24.78 per pound (equivalent to the rate for roll-your-own tobacco)

Politics. These ding-dongs float these bill so they can say "see, I tried to pass such and such bill" even though there is no intention of actually passing the bill. This big Sequester mess is a pristine example.

The question on my mind is when they make it illegal all together.

Will never ever happen in the states. Why? There is too much revenue associated with tobacco. Just look at the cost of a pack of smokes. In Seattle its about $10 a pack. Most of that is tax revenue.

 

[gray4lines]

Also, it is not within the power of the FDA to ban tobacco alltogether.

 

[zonomo]

Well said MikeP.

 

[numbersix]

Also, it is not within the power of the FDA to ban tobacco alltogether.

From my POV, it's the work-arounds, such as from healthcare, and other measures from 'out in left field' that I believe will get us in the end.

 

[piperl12]

Ironically my wife and I were discussion this yesterday regarding the total collapse of the monetary system and current government. I'm not convinced it would be a bad thing all together. Kinda like a Ctrl Alt Delete for the world. We would all go back to bartering services. Working for a living at keeping from going hungry which would leave much less time for all this back stabbing politics. Of course then who is going to grow my tobacco..... Yea never mind lol

 

[sparroa]

The FDA doesn't have to ban tobacco.
All the FDA has to do is crack down on tobacco flavourings - BAM - pipe tobacco is dead.
Meanwhile you can stroll on down to the store and pick up a pack of Marlboros because cigarette burley gets a chocolate/liquorice exemption. Menthols might also live to die another day...
I think cigars might make it out of this jam, but pipe tobacco will be ruined if it all comes to pass as they say.

 

[piperl12]

Hmmm interesting thought Simenon, although I would rather them ban flavorings than tobacco all together. At least we can add our own flavors at home and become our own micro blenders. Tobacco is a bit harder to grow. @ Mike Phillips my Dad once knew a man back in the 50's who told him that someday we would pick up the musket again. Maybe he wasn't such a crazy after all.

 

[swhipple]

My take on this is soon is now, and soon is in the next five years. The tax increases won't happen all at once, they will happen little by little until they are higher everywhere. It's death by a 1000 paper cuts.
I'm not really hoarding a lot of tobacco but since it ages well I benefit in 2 ways be stocking up a little now. In 5-10 years if prices go sky high I'll have a stash and it will be nicely aged as well.

 

[rmbittner]

What frightens you about this comment?

The fact that there has been a noticeable run on guns and ammo is what scares me. Terrifies me, in fact.
To say more would pull us too far off-topic and start an argument I don't really want to have. Judging from the discussions I've seen -- not to mention a few of the avatars -- I know many here have very strong feelings on the other side.
Bob

 

[zonomo]

I know many here have very strong feelings on the other side.

I see. Let's just say that the vast vast vast majority of the people wanting to exercise their 2nd Amendment rights and have the forethought to actually prepare for this are the good guys, not the bad guys. I guess just be terrified then.

 

[sparroa]

piper, I think that tobacco in general will always be "around" despite whatever measures the government tries to enforce but my point is that if the commercial flavourings are banned by the FDA then the pipe tobacco trade as we know it is done.
We would be lucky to emulate the nastiest no-name bulk blend in our attempts to case homegrown or even unflavoured cigarette tobacco and I think most of us would quit instead of enduring the decline in quality.
Tobacco does indeed sound like a terrifically hard crop to go. From what I understand, though, the growing is comparatively easy alongside the curing process - let alone all of the other esoteric processing steps it would take to make a serviceable pipe tobacco. Very few of us would be able to make it work.
It's funny that hundreds of years worth of techniques and trade secrets could be wiped out with the stroke of a pen. Sad, too...
I will not comment on the other debate mentioned here but it is a fact that exactly the same forces are at play. The state is attempting to limit access and there is an inevitable stockpiling going on as people see the drama unfolding around them.
It is natural for us to prepare for an upcoming storm as we see it brewing on the horizon...

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Thanks guys. Every time I read one of these types of threads, I pull the trigger on another 100 tins.

 

[yadan]

Pipe tobacco prices have recently risen in Israel by over 10%. I try to stock up whenever my wife isn't looking...

 

[numbersix]

I try to stock up whenever my wife isn't looking...

lol!

 

[leonardw]

Besides the weak whining of a few pipe clubs, who speaks for pipe smokers?

The Pipe Tobacco Council has been quite vocal since pre-SCHIP. Paul Creasy of Altadis has been particularly active in speaking out on our industry's behalf. Whether anyone is listening, well, that's another matter entirely.

 

[rmbittner]

Thanks guys. Every time I read one of these types of threads, I pull the trigger on another 100 tins.

roth:
What? Me worry?
To be honest, I'm not exactly sure why I'm not worried about this personally or why I feel sometimes that those who are are worrying unnecessarily. After all, I have enough in the cellar to last me the rest of my life (assuming I've got 20-30 years left). So. . . I don't know what my problem is.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Hehe, I'm wonder if Bob isn't posturing as Alfred E. Newman on this at all -- rather, he's simply venting because the gloom and doom on the doubling and tripling of pipe tobacco being on the horizon has been quite frustrating as pipe smokers are stocking up a lot of tobacco and thus more and more favorite blends are out of stock and on backorder

Er . . . Calm down everybody. There is no need to worry about tobacco prices increasing or favored blends disappearing. This is all a gigantic hoax. I'm not in the least worried and none of you should be either. :wink:

 

[misterlowercase]

:

...found a few relevant entries on topic over at this blog:
the-pipe-tobacco-tax-part-1



the-pipe-tobacco-tax-part-2
the-tobacco-tax-bill-reintroduced

:

:

 

[cigrmaster]

From my point of view it will happen sooner than later and in some states it is already here. If I am not mistaken, if you live in Washington state, no online sellers will sell to you. That means you are subject to the 100% tax on pipe tobacco. I live in Florida with an 85% tax and if they decide to no longer let me order tobacco on line I am toast. If the bill regarding internet tax goes through does that mean the online sellers will have to collect the 85% tax, I don't know. If the FDA gets involved and blends disappear, that will suck. I look at the landscape and see many ways that my favorites blends could disappear, or be taxed to the extreme or maybe the sellers cannot sell to Florida, anyone of these things could take place and limit my options so I am not taking any chances. I honestly hope that none of these things happen, but when I look at what the rest of thee world is paying for pipe tobacco, I see our future. I would rather be safe than sorry so I am planning accordingly.

 

[olewaylon]

It will always be a gamble. A lot of people who waited to stock pile ammunition are sure regretting that they didn't start stockpiling sooner. Im one of them.