Fda Warns On Circumventing Flavored-Cigarette Ban

[BirdDog]

This is a story from the Wall Street Journal. This starts today. Scary how we could soon be affected by this. It is stated in the article that the ban is in regards to "any roll of tobacco wrapped in paper".

Link to story - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125364409549231483.html

Wall Street Journal

By JENNIFER CORBETT DOOREN

Food and Drug Administration officials warned companies Tuesday to think twice about circumventing a new ban on certain flavored cigarettes by introducing similar products like little cigars.

Specifically, the ban affects cigarettes with fruit, candy or clove flavors. Although such products -- primarily made by small, private firms or imported into the U.S. -- account for a tiny segment of cigarettes smoked in the U.S., the ban is the first major step taken by the FDA since the agency was given jurisdiction over the tobacco industry in June.

Health officials also said they hoped the ban would stop many young people from trying smoking.

"The appeal to youth is overwhelming," said Matthew L. Myers, the president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, one of the groups that pushed for enactment of the legislation giving the FDA authority over tobacco products. "They are starter products."

FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg noted that 90% of adults who smoke started as children.

Products affected by the ban include cigarettes with flavors like clove, vanilla and grape. In 2006, tobacco maker R.J. Reynolds, part of Reynolds American Inc., agreed to stop marketing flavored Camel cigarettes as part of an agreement with state attorneys' general.

The ban doesn't apply to menthol cigarettes, but the FDA said it is "examining options" for regulating menthol cigarettes as well as other tobacco products like smokeless tobacco products that are also available in several flavors.

At least one company, Kretek International Inc., which imports Djarum-brand tobacco products from Indonesia, has started importing cigars similar to the size of a cigarette that contain flavors like clove and vanilla, amid confusion about whether the ban applies to cigars.

Kretek didn't immediately return a call for comment.

The tobacco law allows the FDA to regulate cigars but requires the agency to first issue regulations deeming cigars to be subject to the law, a process that could take years.

However, Lawrence Deyton, the director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products, explained that the federal definition of a cigarette includes "any roll of tobacco wrapped in paper," suggesting certain cigars could immediately fall under the tobacco law and the flavored-cigarette ban.

An FDA lawyer said the FDA would look at "little cigars" and similar products on a "case-by-case basis."

In a memo to the industry, the FDA said the tobacco law applies to all tobacco products that meet the definition of a "cigarette" even if they aren't labeled as cigarettes or "are labeled as cigars or some other product."

[Sinikal]

Thanks for this post, this is absolutely ridiculous....what the hell!!! Edited September 24, 2009 by Sinikal

[Christopher]

Yup, a buddy of mind went into the gas station the other day to purchase a pack of Blacks. The guy behind the counter said they don't sell them anymore because it's illegal.

[keenan]

WTF !! I SWEAR, It seems like Democracy as we know it will be GONE in our lifetime, definitly in our childrens lifetime. Did you guys see the report on the news about the school in N.J. making the kids sing "Praise to Obama" ? The lyrics sound like some ducking Chairman Mao song !!! Here they are as printed by Fox News -

Song 1:

Mm, mmm, mm!

Barack Hussein Obama

He said that all must lend a hand

To make this country strong again

Mmm, mmm, mm!

Barack Hussein Obama

He said we must be fair today

Equal work means equal pay

Mmm, mmm, mm!

Barack Hussein Obama

He said that we must take a stand

To make sure everyone gets a chance

Mmm, mmm, mm!

Barack Hussein Obama

He said red, yellow, black or white

All are equal in his sight

Mmm, mmm, mm!

Barack Hussein Obama

Yes!

Mmm, mmm, mm

Barack Hussein Obama

Song 2:

Hello, Mr. President we honor you today!

For all your great accomplishments, we all doth say "hooray!"

Hooray, Mr. President! You're number one!

The first black American to lead this great nation!

Hooray, Mr. President we honor your great plans

To make this country's economy number one again!

Hooray Mr. President, we're really proud of you!

And we stand for all Americans under the great Red, White, and Blue!

So continue ---- Mr. President we know you'll do the trick

So here's a hearty hip-hooray ----

Hip, hip hooray!

Hip, hip hooray!

Hip, hip hooray!

What the HELL is this country coming to ?

Someone PLEASE gimme a reason NOT to move to CANADA

[Christopher]

singing a song to Obama? Do you have a link to that?

[keenan]

singing a song to Obama? Do you have a link to that?

Heres the link from today on Foxnews.com

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/24/elementary-school-students-reportedly-taught-songs-praising-president-obama/

I have NEVER heard of this for ANY President we have ever had. I HAVE seem this done in North Korea and China. This really makes my stomach turn. I mean, I dont like the guy or his views, but he is my President and I will respect him, this however is RIDICULOUS. And if HE doesnt speak up about it and make them stop, then he MUST have a different agenda than we previously thought.

[VegasVapor]

Oh man. Just read over that article and it makes me sick. I'm not really into politics or anything and I have nothing against the president, but you don't make a song praising him. He's not a god and shouldn't be treated like one. The article says "One song that the children were taught quotes directly from the spiritual "Jesus Loves the Little Children," though Jesus' name is replaced with Obama's: "He said red, yellow, black or white/All are equal in his sight. Barack Hussein Obama."

[Christopher]

MAN this makes me so freaking mad that words cannot describe. I would be PISSED if I found out my kids where singing that song. WTF is wrong with these people, with these teachers? Hmm?

I'm all for supporting the president, but he is a public servant, he works for us. We show praise to this country not to a single entity. Ever.

[BirdDog]

MAN this makes me so freaking mad that words cannot describe. I would be PISSED if I found out my kids where singing that song. WTF is wrong with these people, with these teachers? Hmm?

I'm all for supporting the president, but he is a public servant, he works for us. We show praise to this country not to a single entity. Ever.

I am so on the same page as you. I support the president (I did not vote for him) and I am not willing to treat him like a single entity. Right after the election one of our local high schools petitioned to change it name to Barrack Obama. Too soon, too soon.

[jimindenver]

Reasons not to move to Canada

Maybe just a few...

Aren't E-cigs banned there already?

50% income tax

VAT

Health care that people are dieing for...literally

I had seen the article on the school name change near here but I hadn't heard of the singing thing. That's a little weird. I mean I accept that there are going to be certain things people will want to do just because he is the first black president but maybe we shouldn't start carving a new face in Rushmore just for that.

[TheSmokingMan]

MAN this makes me so freaking mad that words cannot describe. I would be PISSED if I found out my kids where singing that song. WTF is wrong with these people, with these teachers? Hmm?

I'm all for supporting the president, but he is a public servant, he works for us. We show praise to this country not to a single entity. Ever.

Man, sometimes you just feel led to a place for a reason, I was really wondering what the political climate would be over here on Vapor Talk. I am glad to see that you don't line up with the picture of a typical Californian that I have always had.

Government should be of laws rather than men, that is why the Framers of the Constitution opted for a Republic and not a Democracy. A Democracy is majority (mob) rule, a Republic is Rule by Law. The worship of our new President is frightening. I believe what we are seeing with these incidents across the nation with school children paying homage to him is the beginning of what has happened in North Korea with the elevation of Kim Jung Ill to god status by the brainwashed masses that started with his father in the schools and what we are seeing in China that started the same way with Chairman Mao. New York City is celebrating the 60th anniversary of China's Communist rule by lighting the Empire State Building up with red and yellow lights this week.

[Christopher]

I have a very strong opinion when it comes to Government although I try to shut my mouth when on the forum. (More to keep things stable) I remember I created a post a while back (which I removed) about a video that I saw. In fact let me just post the video...

This video got me so heated my wife thought I was going to crack. Now you can see the video starts out by "I pledge" pledge to help others. Which is amazing and awesome. It's how we should be, how it should always be. BUT then the end of the video is what catches my attention "I pledge to serve our president, I pledge to serve Obama"

Whoa what did you say? Are you KIDDING me? First it shouldn't take a president for you not to be such an ***, or to take care of the Earth. Your lazy *** should do it to give your children and other children a chance to live a life you are so lucky to have lived in the first place. One of the actors kisses his arms saying "I pledge to serve Barack Obama" what is that a threat? Bring it you tattooed little prick.

Then what REALLY gets me going is the very end "I pledge to be a servant to Obama"

Man, that is beyond scary. You should never EVER pledge to be a servant to anyone, ESPECIALLY NOT ONE PERSON OR ONE MAN. Amazing. You serve to protect this country and the United States. You show respect to the president. You sure as hell don't serve him. He SERVES YOU. People have to stop seeing the Government as them and start seeing the Government as us.

You know what I pledge?

I pledge allegiance to THESE UNITED STATES and to the Republic, for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

You have to remember there is a HUGE difference between pledging to help someone accomplish something and pledging to be a servant to them.

This video should never be shown to any child, these are people that our kids look up to. At a very young age they are susceptible to things like "serve the president"

It would be nice if these actors would take a moment to read the Constitution instead of their scripts.

Good God.

When an opponent declares, "I will not come over to your side," I calmly say, "Your child belongs to us already. . . . What are you? You will pass on. Your descendants, however, now stand in the new camp. In a short time they will know nothing else but this new community."

Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)

[TheSmokingMan]

I don't buy into a lot of conspiracy theories, although I find them interesting. I do, however, think that most of the world misses the grand conspiracy that I see everyday, everywhere. If you believe in God and Satan or Good and Evil, Satan/Evil is bent on destroying what God/Good has created. It doesn't matter who is deceived, who is hurt or what is lost or destroyed in the process. It is Satan's ultimate goal to destroy all that God has made, by whatever means necessary. This trickles down into every aspect of our society and our lives. The FDA has been deceived or distracted by the money from the Tobacco Lobby and therefore instead of looking into the benefits of e-Cigs they want to ban them because it does nothing positive for the tobacco companies. This is just one example of what I'm talking about.

[DarthVaper]

The ban doesn't apply to menthol cigarettes, but the FDA said it is "examining options" for regulating menthol cigarettes as well as other tobacco products like smokeless tobacco products that are also available in several flavors.

Something bothers me about this portion of new regulations, and I remember some controversy over it when it was being passed. Big Tobacco was willing but reluctant to stop selling "flavored" cigarettes, but was absolutely against banning menthols and ended up getting their way.

The controversy some people raised at the time was that the menthol cigarette market is primarily made up of African Americans, specifically lower income African Americans. There is supposedly proof of this. Some have said that this raises the specter of racism over what, on the surface, is meant to be a public health measure. It seems to be saying that some populations in our society are worth helping while others aren't, and profits will always win out over human lives.

[DarthVaper]

Here's some evidence to back up my previous post, Exclusion of Menthol Cigarettes . . . and a couple disturbing quotes:

About 44% of smokers ages 12 to 17 use menthol cigarettes

A 2002 study found 60% of middle school smokers smoked menthol

and

And among menthol smokers, blacks smoked more than whites, they reported last year. In the USA, about 80% of black smokers prefer menthol cigarettes, compared with only about a quarter of white smokers.

[keenan]

This whole situation makes me sick. I dont care if hes white, black, red, green or blue. He is taking the Presidency and making a mockery of it. Acting more like a rock star than a public servant. Hes nothing more than a false prophet. and if I make my feelings known, I will be labeled a racist. These are DANGEROUS times we live in. I believe Democracy as we know it is going to run its course in our lifetime. We are repeating History, and not heeding the lessons once learned.

[TheSmokingMan]

This whole situation makes me sick. I dont care if hes white, black, red, green or blue. He is taking the Presidency and making a mockery of it. Acting more like a rock star than a public servant. Hes nothing more than a false prophet. and if I make my feelings known, I will be labeled a racist. These are DANGEROUS times we live in. I believe Democracy as we know it is going to run its course in our lifetime. We are repeating History, and not heeding the lessons once learned.

“Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it.” -Edmund Burke 1729-1797

[Christopher]

It will be intersting to see what happens over the next few years. I hope Obama does lead our country in a positive direction. In all honesty I'm not against Obama, I'm just weary. I don't think there is anything wrong with that. Although I haven't read his new health reform, I honestly think he's trying to take things in a positive new direction, after all it can't be any worse than what we already have. The American medical system is beyond screwed up. But I suppose that's another topic.

I don't want people think I hate Obama, because I don't, but I will never let my kids or myself or anyone else, if I can educate them enough, to ever serve anyone. I think it's important that kids, children and adults understand our government.

It's good to see that others are concerned and aware. It shows that you all care about this country.

[MorisatoIncorporated]

BTW, phillip morris didn't sell flavored cigarettes except menthol. So this new ban takes out a decent portion of their competition. Interesting eh. Said it before but smells like a monopoly to me.

[keenan]

The scary thing to me about Obama is he is NOT qualified to do the job. Not that anyone can BE prepared to do that job, but he is probably the LEAST qualified of all the candidates that ran. He is already showing his ineptitude with all the "czar" appointments, Like this country doesnt have enough beaurocracy to begin with. He is nothing more than a slick talker, who hob nobbed with all the RIGHT people (Oprah), and told everyone what they wanted to hear. I am NOT racist by any means, I have NO USE for anyone that is, but tell me, if it were a WHITE candidate who spoke EVERY word that he spoke during the campaign, would as many Black voters have turned out ? This was the most racially motivated election in the history of America. And Joe Biden , PULEASE !!! Put him a friggin heartbeat away from the Oval office. Dear God in heaven, what were we thinking. Nancy Pelosi, shes as close to a card carrying socialist as they come. And, to be fair, the Republicans dont offer up much better. They are ALL, Democrat and Republican, self serving egotistical robots who are ALL SO out of touch with mainstream America its pathetic. And almost EVERY politician in this country has one thing in common. THEY ARE ALL LAWYERS. THATS where the problem with this country stems from. We are being run by litigators, not representitives. Shakespear was right - "First, we kill all the lawyers ".

[TheSmokingMan]

BTW, phillip morris didn't sell flavored cigarettes except menthol. So this new ban takes out a decent portion of their competition. Interesting eh. Said it before but smells like a monopoly to me.

I don't really think that it's a monopoly thing. Way back there in the "Long Time Ago's" when the Statue Of Liberty was just a little girl, there was American Tobacco Company (founded in 1890). They got large and in 1911 the government busted them up because they were a monopoly. Because of that, several large tobacco companies came out of the split up. RJ Reynolds (a few brands are Winston, Salem and Camel), Liggett & Meyers (a few brands are Eve, Pyramid and USA) and Lorillard (a few brands are Newport Kent and True). Philip Morris (founded in London 1850's) on the other hand has grown into a huge multi-billion dollar, majorly diversified company that is now part of Altria Group. Philip Morris is into food (Kraft), coffee (Maxwell House), beer (Miller Brewing Company) and cigarettes. I'm sure that the tobacco companies want to protect what is left of their dwindling cigarette market but I think that the greed or "market protection" comes in the form of lobbyists for tobacco paying off agencies like the FDA to insure them their continued market share of smokers.

I think that smokers are on their way out in the US and, UK and Western Europe and the cigarette companies know it, I even believe that a deal was made with the government back in the 90's when the big tobacco lawsuits were happening. It is my opinion that as we travel through time the majority of smokers that don't quit will die, as their marketing efforts have been severely squelched by law they will not be adding very many more new customers as they die off or quit. Also, the attack on those that currently smoke has come from all fronts, you can't smoke at work anymore, you can't smoke in public places anymore, your kids are taught to lecture you about smoking at home, actors don't smoke on the screen anymore (I think by law, not sure there) and I have even heard the some states are going to charge smokers with injury to a child if they are caught smoking in the car while a minor is riding with them, Not to forget the campaign against second smoke, now it's third hand smoke that is also a danger, according to the media. So I think that cigarette companies are on their way out in the US, the UK and Western Europe. It's the rest of the world that they want to make their money in and e-Cigs pose a threat to those markets and they need to set a precedent here and now so the product doesn't spread and overtake their precious cigarettes.

But, that's just my opinion, opinions are like elbows, everybody has a couple.