Smokers License?

[45nut]

Full article here

WASHINGTON (CBS DC) – A public health proposal suggests that tobacco smokers should be required to apply and pay for a “smoker’s license” in order to continue buying cigarettes.

In this week’s PLOS Medicine medical journal, two leading tobacco control advocates debate the merits of the smoker’s license. Simon Chapman, a professor at the University of Sydney, proposes that users would have to apply and pay for a mandatory license in the form of a smartcard that would be shown when buying cigarettes.

Dr. Chapman wrote that it could discourage young people from picking up the habit.

In a controversial move, the smartcard would allow the government to limit how many cigarettes a smoker could buy. Professor Chapman suggests 50 per day averaged over two weeks to accommodate heavy smokers. The anti-smoking activist told the Daily Mail that the sale of tobacco is currently subject to trivial controls compared to other dangerous products that threaten both public and personal safety.


With Obamacare now the law of the land, how long before they do the same thing regarding guns?

[gun runner]

That is just wrong . Who do these people think they are?

[GunnyGene]

Originally Posted by gun runner

That is just wrong . Who do these people think they are?

They think they know what's best for everyone. Kinda like being God. In reality, they're just a bunch of buttinski's, with huge egos and a superiority complex. F 'em.

[terryu1]

Just another tax on smokers and hiding behind the "it will help keep kids from getting cigs" push. Bull!!! Although I quit 25 yrs ago many have and can not. BUT they have been harrassed enough.

Secondly, they already have a very good ID project in place to keep kids from getting cigs, A few yrs ago my daughter was working in a hoagie shop and undercover buyer came in during a friday lunch time when there was a line out the door and my daughter failed to card him. I was called to the store and there were two dectectives there and we had to go to a hearing before judge. Thankfully since she had no record and the store had passed on numerous buy attempts in past they let it go.

Bottom line is that the excuse is not valid and the smokers license will be just another tax on the poor and middle class of America.

[DanielBoone]

I wonder if smokers under Obamacare will be "taxed" a higher amount. Socialism at its best, and we still have 4 more years...

[gun runner]

Originally Posted by GunnyGene

They think they know what's best for everyone. Kinda like being God. In reality, they're just a bunch of buttinski's, with huge egos and a superiority complex. F 'em.

I just cant believe these people want to invade peoples lives and tell them how to live. I wonder what else they have planned. I hope nothing happens to beer

[gdmoody]

All you smokers better start hoarding those butts. I can see a tremendous black market opportunity coming.

[gun runner]

I need to quit smoking but I just cant go without smoking when Im drinking.

[Jerryboy]

looks like tobacco is going the way of weed.

[GunnyGene]

Originally Posted by gun runner

I just cant believe these people want to invade peoples lives and tell them how to live. I wonder what else they have planned. I hope nothing happens to beer

Haven't you seen the food police adverts (meat is bad, etc., etc.)? And the gun control adverts? And the Obamacare adverts? And, and, and.....

[GunnyGene]

Originally Posted by Jerryboy

looks like tobacco is going the way of weed.

You mean they're going to legalize it? (Washington and Colorado).

[Zhurh]

All they want is more tax revenue. Wife is 2 pack a day smoker, actually the only thing she really spends money on; and I spend way more on guns than she spends on smokes. We don't ever factor in my alcohol, family rule. In Alaska, 8 dollar/pack/day/year=close to 6 gran a year; still way better than livin with the she devil of the North when the mail plane hasn't come in for 8-9 days and she runs outta smokes. I ain't complainin.

[wv hillbilly]

just wait till the rest of big ears health care plan is made public

[MSGT-R]

Originally Posted by gun runner

I just cant believe these people want to invade peoples lives and tell them how to live. I wonder what else they have planned. I hope nothing happens to beer

Naww, the yuppies like micro-breweries too much.

Originally Posted by gdmoody

All you smokers better start hoarding those butts. I can see a tremendous black market opportunity coming.

No, the non-smokers should start buying. The resale potential is tremendous!
Reminds me of being stationed in Japan back in '78; two cartons per payday at the exhcange, and you had to sign a logbook! I would buy for my Japanese friend out in town so I wouldn't show up to dinner empty handed.

[carver]

Originally Posted by GunnyGene

They think they know what's best for everyone. Kinda like being God. In reality, they're just a bunch of buttinski's, with huge egos and a superiority complex. F 'em.

Gunny, it's not really "kinda like being God". These fools really think they are God. What did Satan tell Eve in the garden, "and ye shall be as gods", Gen 3:5. Since that day man has tried to become God!

[firefighter1635]

I'm a smoker, yes I know I need to quit because it's bad for me but i'll quit when I want to quit, not when anyone else expecially the Gov't tells me to. I'll not be taking part in their ignorant "Tax card" as well. I'll get them however I get them for how ever long I want to get them. Freekin' Leaches make me sick.

[marlin795]

Oh well, I need to quit anyways.

[mjp28]

Originally Posted by gdmoody

All you smokers better start hoarding those butts. I can see a tremendous black market opportunity coming.

Just what I was thinking if they put a quota!

Non-smokers could get a licence and sell what they buy.

ALSO being a cigar smoker we really get hit already especially after the last SCHIP tax.

Sin taxes, the easiest mark out there!

[gvw3]

I am going to grow my own. This is getting ridiculous.

[nmckenzie]

Mark Twain once observed "Quitting smoking is easy, I've done it hundreds of times...". Well so had I, and it wasn't easy, but I finally managed to a good many years ago. That said, if I were still going through a pack and a half a day no tax or license would stand in my way - even if I had to resort to growing and harvesting my own tobacco. Way I figure it, a Smoker's License would just be another load of politically expedient b.s., not to mention another source of revenue.

[nmckenzie]

Short p.s. to previous:

For any of you guys and girls who might require some incentive to quit smoking, a three pack a day buddy of mine (same age and I've known him for nearly forty years) was just diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. It's also metastasized to his brain and lymph nodes. Even with chemo and radiation (don't know why they're going to be putting him through this) the docs figure he's got four months, maybe five. I'll miss my buddy.

[MSGT-R]

Yep, my Uncle died like that. Hated hospitals and wouldn't go until he collapsed. Too late, he died on the table. There was nothing they could do for him.

[Rocketman1]

Originally Posted by DanielBoone

I wonder if smokers under Obamacare will be "taxed" a higher amount. Socialism at its best, and we still have 4 more years...

I already am. I have to pay and extra $100 bucks a month for my health insurance.

[BlackEagle]

Obamacare...the Nanny state has arrived. Get used to it. It will only become more intrusive. Self-righteous liberal idiots will start telling you how to live. New York city's limited drink sizes is only the start.

[bluesea112]

Buy them from Russia. You avoid the crazy US laws and the rediculous sin taxes.