Obama’s War On Cancer Sticks
Posted by: Nikki Dowling
Filed in:
news
3:50PM, Tuesday June 23rd 2009
Obama may puff on a cigarette every now and then, but that doesn’t mean he thinks it’s okay for you to do it. On Monday, he signed a bill that will seriously regulate cancer sticks. Under this bill, the Food and Drug Administration gets to rule over tobacco companies with an iron fist. By January, cigarette companies will have to register with the FDA and offer up a list of the ingredients in everything they’re making. The president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids called this “the strongest action the federal government has ever taken to reduce tobacco use.” [USA Today]
Here is exactly what the bill prescribes:
- In about a year, you won’t see tobacco company’s logos on clothing or promotional items in the sporting or entertainment world. This makes sense, since there’s nothing athletic about a cig.
- By next July, you can say goodbye to the terms “light,” “low” or “mild.” Peeps are going to have a much more difficult time making themselves feel better about puffing away.
- In 2011, the warning labels on tobacco products are going to be even bigger and bolder. Maybe cancer stick packages should just be one, big warning label?
- Flavored cigs are going to be off the market by fall. This is good because, let’s face it, these are like the lolipops of cigarettes and totally appeal to kids.
What do you think—should the government be taking such bold steps against tobacco? How long til you think it’ll be illegal.
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GreenAura
wrote on June 23 2009 @ 03:54 pm: [report]
I wonder if pulling the flavored cigs include flavored cigars?? I have some, umm, friends that use the flavored tobacco papers to roll up other *stuff*, and it tastes tastes kinda yummy. Well, so my friends say!
joyy
wrote on June 23 2009 @ 03:57 pm: [report]
@GreenAura - you can still buy the flavored cigar wraps and cig rolling papers, whether you buy them alone or already filled with tobacco.
GreenAura
wrote on June 23 2009 @ 03:59 pm: [report]
thx joyy!
Tetrine
wrote on June 23 2009 @ 04:01 pm: [report]
What I don’t understand is how they are now going to differentiate between cigarettes with different levels of nicotine/tar without the words “mild”, “light”, etc. I understand why they are removing these misleading words, but ... there’s got to be some way to delimit between different strengths of cigarettes, yes?
mlyway
wrote on June 23 2009 @ 09:12 pm: [report]
The state I live in, Massachusetts, passed new laws this past November that I think have helped reduce cigarette smoke and the ability to purchase cigarettes. One law is that any store that has a pharmacy in it is not allowed to sell cigarettes since a pharmacy is supposed to promote health. So many grocery stores and CVS’s cannot sell them. Another is that any store on college campuses are no longer allowed to sell cigarettes, which means students have to travel further if they really want to smoke. Also, one I really like is that no one is allowed to smoke in front of any building such as the front and back entrances to prevent second hand smoke for people who use those buildings. I am not sure when these laws will be enacted (as they were supposed to be in March but were delayed because they need to make sure they enforce it). And I am glad Obama is taking a further step in preventing the younger generations from picking up a smoking addiction.
hereshestands
wrote on June 23 2009 @ 11:57 pm: [report]
I’m from a little town in Australia and work at a grocery store that sells tobacco and cigarettes. The warnings don’t deter people and it makes our job harder not having the milligrams on the packets.
People are going without food so they can pay for their cigarettes. I would be so happy the day they take them off the market. Then all the smokers can just grow their own and I don’t have to think about fag sticks anymore.
I can’t stand cigarettes.
Katrina
wrote on June 25 2009 @ 12:01 pm: [report]
I just have one question: why has it taken this long to get laws like this?
I go to school in North Carolina but live in New York, and I can’t believe that smoking is still allowed in restaurants and other public places.
No one wants their kids to smoke, yet we still allow cigarettes to be seen as “acceptable drugs”.
Change = good.