I've just finished watching a pretty excellent documentary ( Ken Burns: Prohibition) detailing the period in our country's history known as...Ta-dah!...Prohibition. Noting undeniable similarities in decades before Prohibition took place fully one hundred years ago, I'm convinced that the same will occur with nicotine. It's only a matter of time.
In this day and age, as back in the day in which industrial production was just getting started in this country, the people wanting to bring it about believe they hold the moral high ground. It will be done to save the family, namely the children. There will be a proliferation of ways in which to obtain it, adulteration of product with no protections, fortunes made by those willing to risk supplying those who will consume the product, and other completely unimagined, unintended consequences. As a nation we went through this very same song and dance when it came to alcohol. Biggest lesson from this period? A nation cannot successfully and effectively legislate morality for the masses. We clearly have not learned from the past. All indications are that we are going to repeat it. It's not a matter of if, but when.
The government, both federal and state, can't survive without the increased tax revenue regulating ALL tobacco products, including vaping, will bring, we assure ourselves today. It will survive, though perhaps not in a form we would want. The same thing was being said by those who drank alcohol, and the breweries, nearly one hundred years ago. That fact didn't stand for long. Federal income tax was brought about, and Prohibition passed soon afterward. Governments will always find a way to get money from the masses. No one tax or levy is ever that vital to their cause. We forget that at our peril.
Unfortunately I'm pretty much convinced that no matter how much we fight, how much we speak out, how sincerely and earnestly we strive for reason and freedom for thinking adults who take personal responsibility, there will be a prohibition against products which contain nicotine. Once more a group of people have taken it upon themselves to be the moral equivalent of hall monitor. We're told it's for the good of everyone, that any patriotic American can easily let go of a crutch. It's not needed, it never did anyone any good and has no place in this country, they say. Expect images of a devil-horned Good Saint Nic with a toy bag containing packs of candy flavored e-cigarettes in one hand, and a pitchfork in the other. We've all seen the drill by now, and know that the Antis will not bend, will not compromise, will take no prisoners. Make no mistake, complete prohibition is their goal, and they will accept nothing less.
I'm not advocating that we give up without a whimper. Millions made the mistake of remaining silent back then, and we know the result. Speak out, send emails, let vapers know their freedom is at stake. I'll be there right by your side, trying to reason with the unreasonable ones. Just know while you're working that complete prohibition of nicotine will always be a very real, and currently is, a very probable outcome. It's going to be interesting.
If you get the chance, I encourage you to watch Ken Burns: Prohibition. It's a PBS documentary available for free to those who have Amazon Prime, and possibly available elsewhere. The similarities between what we are facing today and what occurred a hundred years ago will astound you. If nothing else, it should serve as a real wake up call for those who've been repeating to themselves, It will never happen again.
