So it used to be that most places prevented me from smoking cloves. Then legislation went through so that no one could smoke indoors. And now Obama is trying to prevent me from smoking cloves at all. Since it is obvious that our government has given up all pretense of freedom, I guess it is time we give up pretense of caring what they think...
So if anyone knows of any speakeasy opening up, let me know.
Told you.
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought it weird that Phillip Morris was for it... Then I thought maybe they'll file bankruptcy and get a bailout or something... Or maybe it is because they know rates of consumption are highest during times of prohibition...
ReplyDeleteBut then I remembered... Djarum (the cloves) is one of their competitors... So, they are all "That's a great idea! Make our competitors go out of business!" doh.
From Wikipedia:
ReplyDeleteIn the United States, cigarettes have been the subject of legal restrictions and political debate, including a proposed 2004 US Senate bill that would have prohibited cigarettes from having a "characterising flavor" of certain ingredients other than tobacco and menthol.[11] A study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control found kreteks account for a relatively small percentage of underage smoking, and their use was declining among high school students.[12] Critics of the bill argued that support of the bill by the large U.S. tobacco maker Philip Morris, which makes only conventional and menthol cigarettes, indicated that the bill was an attempt to protect the company from competition.[citation needed]
Some U.S. states, including Utah, New Mexico, and Maryland, have passed laws that prohibit the sale of kreteks.[13] On 14 March 2005, Philip Morris International announced the purchase of Indonesian tobacco company PT HM Sampoerna after acquiring a 40% stake in Sampoerna from a number of Sampoerna’s principal shareholders.[14]
In 2009, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act was introduced in the US Congress; one of the provisions in the law include a ban on the use of favors in tobacco, other than menthol. The ban would effectively include kreteks.