Congress diverts its attention from banning vapes to the ban of tobacco sales online as well as the push to make 21-years-old the federally mandated age to purchase tobacco products.
According to the section 201 of the “Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the ban comes in the form of bill H.R. 2339 which if signed into law would effectively outlaw the online sale of any tobacco products:
“A tobacco product is “any product made or derived from tobacco that is intended for human consumption, including any component, part, or accessory of a tobacco product (except for raw materials other than tobacco used in manufacturing a component, part, or accessory of a tobacco product).
(2) The term “tobacco product” does not mean an article that is a drug under subsection (g)(1), a device under subsection (h), or a combination product described in section 353(g) of this title.
(3) The products described in paragraph (2) shall be subject to subchapter V of this chapter.
(4) A tobacco product shall not be marketed in combination with any other article or product regulated under this chapter (including a drug, biologic, food, cosmetic, medical device, or a dietary supplement).”
As previously reported by National File, the original proposal surrounded the banning of vapes after a few cases of illness and death were inflated by the media.
Once President Donald J Trump realized that the banning of vaping would cost 100,000 jobs and stimulate the sale of black market good primarily from China he quickly sided with vaping companies.
“The one thing I see though, and you watch prohibition, you look at the alcohol, you look at cigarettes… if you don’t give it to them, it’s going to come here illegally. They’re going to make it.”
The supposed purpose of such bills is to make it more difficult for young people to obtain access to tobacco products as well as minimizing the sale of products that would maybe appeal to the young because of flavors.
However, the bills themselves include language that would restrict the rights of cigar/pipe smokers and vapers by restricting the sale of tobacco.
Caleb Shumate, writier for The Libertarian Republic writes, “As a cigar and pipe smoker myself, I am appalled, but not surprised that government officials could be gearing up to attempt a prohibition movement aimed at tobacco products using the public safety of children as a disguise for their tyrannical actions.” Shumate continues, “Although the war on tobacco doesn’t seem to get as much press coverage as the war on drugs, it is very much alive.
