Holy government overreach, Batman! It’s bad enough that smokers have already been relegated to smoking outside of their own homes on a Friday between the hours of 2 and 3 a.m. with the windows shut while listening to the Spice Girls on repeat. Now, the federal government isn’t only going to forcefully suggest that you don’t smoke, but if you do, you’ll only be allowed to smoke certain cigarettes.
In a brazen move by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency is expected to announce a proposed ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored e-cigarettes in order to “curb nicotine addiction in both minors and African-Americans,” according to Fox Business.
Maybe the government should focus more on why and how minors get their hands on flavored e-cigarettes? Establishments are fined all the time for sale of alcohol to minors. Why not place the onus on retailers not to sell to underage prospective buyers?
According to Fox Business:
FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb is poised to announce a ban on most flavored e-cigarettes at tens of thousands of convenience stores and gas stations across the country this week as well as release a proposed ban on certain menthol cigarette products.
While the agency would not comment on its plans, officials told The New York Times the proposal to ban menthol cigarettes will have to go through the FDA’s regulatory maze first and it could take several years before the restriction takes off, especially if major tobacco companies have their way.
Sure, the ban might be “years away,” but this is still an overreach of epic proportions on the part of the federal government. They shouldn’t be in the business of telling people what they can or can’t put in their body. A practice like that, if enforced, should be voted on by the constituents of whichever state decided to put the motion on a ballot.
If the people don’t want it, then I’m okay with it. I’m not a smoker, but if it ends up being the government telling people what to do, then they’ve once again overstepped their bounds.
Fox Business also reported that Canada already has a ban on menthol cigarettes, while the European Union (EU) is set to enact a ban in 2020. Not surprisingly, California “passed a prohibition” towards sales of menthol cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
I don’t really give a crap what Canada, the EU or San Francisco does. I have no interest in what socialist and globalist bodies of government force upon their people.
H/T: Fox 5 - D.C.