Since I quit smoking 4 years ago, I no longer have a dog in this fight* — but I found this amusing:
WASHINGTON — A Senate committee Wednesday embraced legislation that would for the first time allow federal regulation of cigarettes.
The bill, approved 13 to 8 by the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, would give the Food and Drug Administration authority to restrict tobacco advertising, regulate warning labels and remove hazardous ingredients.
Uh — you mean like “tobacco”? That’s going to put a real damper on cigarette sales I’d imagine…
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*Although, I’m a little tired of the increasing nanny-state we live in, where we need/want the government regulating everything…
I watched “Thank you for not smoking” last night for the first time.
Great film. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427944/
I’ve been a casual smoker since I was about 20 but I quit earlier this year.
What I fail to understand is why governments simply don’t ban smoking if they feel so strong about the ill effects? We now have warnings on every packet, a no indoor smoking policy nationwide, and a massive tax on each packet you buy……..
……ah, THATS why they don’t ban it. Taxes!
“This shit will kill ya! And whilst your at it, thank you for the tax money!”
Jonny
Jon-
There is no inconsistency with the government determining an activity is dangerous and then taxing it yet leaving it up to the individual to determine if she wants to make that choice.
I would imagine there are a handful of other relatively harmless drugs that would better be regulated this way than through prohibition and all of its side effects.
So you would agree with canabis being taxed and lawful?
Even if you say yes or no to that, the fact that the governments think not is the point.
Alcohol related diseases kill millions world wide every year – its legal and its taxed
Smoking kills many millions world wide every year – again, it is legal and it is taxed.
Canabis is outlawed where I come from – no tax by the the way, and I can’t get hold of evidence to support anyone dying from a canabis related disease, in fact, a pretty good medicine for athritis – although I acknowledge the new evidence of mental problem through long term use.
My point Preston is simple. Why tax those vices that are so harmful? Why not ban them? Why ban those vices that can’t be taxed? In all fairness mate, it doesn’t take a genius to work that one out!
Jonny
Why tax those vices that are so harmful? Why not ban them? Why ban those vices that can’t be taxed?
I’m not sure I understand- why can’t marijuana be taxed? Do you suppose users will just grow their own?
I’m not sure I understand- why can’t marijuana be taxed? Do you suppose users will just grow their own?
That’s not a great comparrison.
Are you suggesting every user of Marijuana would turn there spare room into a greenhouse just to escape paying taxes?
Jonny