War Against Tobacco Control
Just another day on the farm
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Make no mistake about it, their ultimate goal is downright elimination of tobacco from the face of the planet. They are well organized and well funded. When do we wake up and fight back? This is very similar to the alcohol prohibition movement of the 1920's. Fueled by "the righteous" to eliminate a centuries old product, they used tactics very similar to today's tobacco control movement. Manipulating the "science" of the day and proclaiming it for the betterment of society, they made alcohol consumption not only a 'sin' but coerced our legislators to make it illegal. It took nearly a decade to undue the movement that created the Prohibition Act that spawned the birth of America's largest crime wave. The World Health Organization's Treaty on Tobacco has over 122 nations signed on. This 'treaty' states that member nations (the U.S. has not signed on yet) among other prohibitionist ideas, treat tobacco consumption as a disease and declare it an epidemic. This justifies their actions to ban smoking in public places and make it illegal to advertise the product. Whole countries, such as Ireland have banned smoking. This is a worldwide movement that makes the alcohol prohibition movement seem like child's play. Just recently the country of Honduras declared that any citizen could complain about a neighbor smoking, call the police and a mandatory fine worth one month's pay would be levied and could end up having you do jail time. Your neighbor could send you to jail for smoking in your own home! Our country has granted control of tobacco to the Food and Drug Administration and treats nicotine as a drug akin to products like morphine. If the FDA models its policies of tobacco control to cigars and pipes the way it has cigarettes, it would ban all walk-in humidors and pipe displays, put graphic warning labels covering 50% of a box of cigars, pipes and tobacco, essentially putting us out of business. It is time to stand up for our rights. This is not an issue of whether tobacco is good or bad. This is an issue of rights and choice to enjoy a legal product. The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association is on the frontlines engaging our legislators in an educational campaign to reverse this movement. Just like the prohibition of the 1920's, we can win! Join the IPCPR as we fight the largest prohibitionist movement in the history of the world. About the author: -Gary Pesh is CEO of Old Virginia Tobacco Co., Tobacco Barns, and Tobacco House |
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