PACT ACT Concerns!

[The Wiz]

With the Heath Care Bill on the doorstep(and possibly being put to a vote before Christmas)One has to wonder how soon until the PACT ACT will reach the Senate floor and Obamas desk? What will this mean to users of alternative tobacco products such as snus and snuff? I read it as a knife in the throat to all online tobbacco purchases(of any kind),and shutting down the USPS from delivering tobacco products as well. At this point in time I'm not sure there is anything users of these products can do....except stock up and expect the worse. My local tobacco shops only carry one brand of snus....and not a tin of snuff to speak of.It might be a good time to see what magic they can work on getting a better selection of alternative tobbacco products available to consumers such as myself! lets all hope this bill sits on the Senate floor and collects dust...I fear that won't be the case!! The Wiz!

 

[olderthandirt]

Hey Wiz, or anyone that knows for that matter,
What have you heard regarding the PACT Act recently?

I just took a quick look at HR 1676 and S. 1147 with OpenCongress and Govtrack, didn't find any activity since the 19th of last month.

 

[Darmeen]

With the Heath Care Bill on the doorstep(and possibly being put to a vote before Christmas)One has to wonder how soon until the PACT ACT will reach the Senate floor and Obamas desk? What will this mean to users of alternative tobacco products such as snus and snuff? I read it as a knife in the throat to all online tobbacco purchases(of any kind),and shutting down the USPS from delivering tobacco products as well. At this point in time I'm not sure there is anything users of these products can do....except stock up and expect the worse. My local tobacco shops only carry one brand of snus....and not a tin of snuff to speak of.It might be a good time to see what magic they can work on getting a better selection of alternative tobbacco products available to consumers such as myself! lets all hope this bill sits on the Senate floor and collects dust...I fear that won't be the case!! The Wiz!

Well you should find out where the munchkins are getting their tobacco from!

We can only hope that it stalls in the Senate...its been nearly a month with no movement.

 

[Stubby]

Haven't heard anything since it flew through the senate committee. I can hope for the best on this but I'm expecting the worst.

This is my understanding of what the bill will do. It does not make buying snus and snuff illegal from online sellers. It will put restrictions on it. All taxes must be paid at the point of sale. Age verification at the point of sale and on delivery (UPS already does this for other products so hopefully no big problem).

From the information I've found you will still be able to get the stuff, we'll just have to pay the taxes. It won't be a knife to the throat for online sellers but it will be a big hassle. Snus actually has some advantages on this over e-liquid. There are only 3 main online sellers for the US. These are not kitchen table operations so they should have the resources to deal with it. I'm gonna hate paying the taxes but its ether that or go back to smoking. There's no other choice for me so I'll do what ever it takes, but I'm not gonna like it.

 

[olderthandirt]

That's my understanding of the outcome as well Stubby. The documentation and tax collection at POS.

So here's another point. For the US, what jurisdictions would be levying taxes?
Federal, state, county.
All the above?

 

[TWISTED VICTOR]

That's my understanding of the outcome as well Stubby. The documentation and tax collection at POS.

So here's another point. For the US, what jurisdictions would be levying taxes?
Federal, state, county.
All the above?

Also mine. There doesn't seem to be a dispute of the sale of these products, but hey, here's another snack for our engorged government to feed on. I'd guess, if this is the turnout, everyone will want a piece of the action . A few cents ransom would be tolerable to me, but what if it goes the way of cigarettes ?

 

[The Wiz]

Stubby....Thanks for clearing this up! I just started following this yesterday...I would imagine both the state and federal branches would want to dip their hands in here.The Wiz!

 

[Stubby]

Both the Feds and the State will get their cut. State taxes differ from state to state so you have to check on the taxes for smokeless tobacco in your area. Wisconsin's taxes are high, 100% of manufactures established price, likely at least a few dollars a can.

I don't know about local taxes. Wisconsin doesn't have any cities or counties that have any special tobacco taxes, but I believe NYC may have some (though don't quote me on that).

 

[The Wiz]

Stubby...NY has one of the highest tobbacco taxes in the US....I think they are currently ranked 3rd in the country.The will surely feel the brunt of this when it happens!!The Wiz!

 

[a2dcovert]

Does a sealed can of snus have a good shelf life?

 

[olderthandirt]

Does a sealed can of snus have a good shelf life?

I'd like to hear from some of the long time snusers on this one as well!

 

[The Wiz]

Looks like Universal Health Care is a done deal.....Wonder what's in store for US in 2010?The Wiz!

 

[olderthandirt]

...Wonder what's in store for US in 2010?The Wiz!

Higher taxes resulting in fewer/lower paying jobs. Sigh

 

[a2dcovert]

Higher taxes resulting in fewer/lower paying jobs. Sigh

It aint over till the fat lady sings, but I think she's warming up. You know what really burns me up is their statement that the health care bill results in a reduction of the deficit. It's not the health care bill doing it. It's the hugh tax increases that are going to reduce the deficit.

OK off my soap box for now.

 

[a2dcovert]

You know Wiz, next year will be a very hot political year. There are several liberals that have comited political suicide and they know it. Problem is that part of this conspiracy is that they have planned this for a long time. The guys responsible may lose re-election but they have a golden parachute all lined up plus their retirement income waiting for them. Meanwhile, this bill will be worded such that it will take a 60 vote majority to overturn it. GRRRRRR!

 

[TropicalBob]

What bothers me most at the moment are the votes in the House and from the Senate committee to approve PACT. Massive support. Hardly any dissent.

I certainly hope the U.S. snus market is large enough and profitable enough for the large Swedish online companies to let their computers set up and bill taxes for each of the 50 states! There's no flat tax rate. Each state is different. Florida passed a whopping tobacco tax increase this past year, so my snus bill will skyrocket.

The Senate has been preoccupied with health care. PACT is back burner at the moment. But when the new year comes, and new taxes are needed on both a state and federal level, as they always are, look out. We could get imPACTed.

 

[a2dcovert]

We will be impacted all right.

 

[olderthandirt]

Well, I'm gearing up for the possible consequences of passage of the PACT a little at a time now. Same as I've done with the vaping supplies.

Over on snuson,com, the snus forum I've been following, there is a reasonable consensus that snus if sealed will keep for a long time. Some swear for a very long time. With that in mind I've got several cans in the freezer, each wrapped in saran wrap and then bagged. I keep adding to it.

Snuff is supposed to be the same. Especially the Scotch and Toast varieties. Kept dry and air tight, looong storage.

I simply can't think what else to do...

 

[C-kool Dad '09]

OK - according to the 'Northerner' we can't get Camel or Lucky Strike Snus in the USA anymore / something about "brand name". What the hell is going on?

 

[olderthandirt]

OK - according to the 'Northerner' we can't get Camel or Lucky Strike Snus in the USA anymore / something about "brand name". What the hell is going on?

Last August. There abouts.

T Bob references here, I read a news article, can't find it but yeah, RJR has copyrights to the brand names in NA so the the Swedish made Camel and Lucky Strike have been barred from import for quite some time.