New laws regarding flavored tobacco.
We’ve all started hearing about flavored tobacco products coming off of the shelves in the near future and yes, the rumors are true. As of now manufacturers have stopped their production and many are beginning to run out of stock. This means big changes for ganja smokers who enjoy their tasty papers or blunts. Those who enjoy flavored cigars or even herbal blends containing tobacco may soon have to look elsewhere for the tasty flavors. This law seems to lack reasoning and appears to be a direct hit to marihuana users. As the flavors are bound to be welcomed in illegal trades, there is no doubt the they will become the new gateway into the black market.
A reason for the new law is that the flavors are encouraging children to become smokers. This may be so, but it is important to remember that to legally purchase a tobacco product, a person must be at least 18 years of age, making them an adult, and they must have photo identification to prove it. If we are going to start making laws to suit children, even for adult products, we will have to be very careful as to where we draw the lines. For example, a person must be 19 years old to purchase alcohol. Booze is sold in a variety of flavors, be it fruits, plants, butterscotch, etc. Now if we were to take into consideration that children may be more enticed to acquire and drink alcohol that is flavored than alcohol that is not, we might feel the need to ban all flavored booze, regardless of the fact that these children are not allowed to even see the booze, let alone purchase it, until they are adults. Do you see what I’m saying?
If flavor is what is drawing the children into using a product, perhaps we should consider other products that are legal for them to purchase but may also be encouraging them to do adult-rated actions . First things that come to mind that have no age limit, but are perhaps targeted more for adults than children are flavored condoms. Now if the flavors are really what’s bringing the children to use the product, it’s a little bit uncomfortable to imagine how many children are being encouraged into having sex while they are extremely young solely because strawberries are their favorite or because they haven’t tried peach yet. So where do we draw the lines?
Well, first of all, we must analyze our reasons for this change and consider who it affects. Flavors may encourage children to try smoking, but it also encourages adults the same. Our taste buds do not expire at 18 and so bringing the children into a law for adults seems to lack sense. However, there are probably more people that would try a cigarette if it was of their favorite flavor that if it was not flavored at all. If someone is going to try smoking and enjoys the sensation of tobacco, flavored or not, they will continue to smoke.
More than cigarette smokers use flavored blunts and papers. In fact, many citizens across Canada have been prescribed cannabis through the form of inhalation, which is more often than not, smoking. To make a law that could restrict the flavors added to make a medicine more desirable is undoubtedly an attack on marihuana users. As banana penicillin or strawberry flavored antibiotics helped us down our medications since we were young, the flavored wraps do the same to help medical marihuana users reach their recommended dosage. If labels need to be reprinted to read “For Medical Marihuana Use Only”, then someone should hop on the wagon and get printing because these laws are only encouraging the demand to rise.
It remains uncertain whether this law will result in fewer young smokers or in more products for the black market. One thing however, that is certain, is that prohibition has failed repeatedly in the past. While causing more harm than it has ever prevented, we can only hope this law won’t prove to be another destructive movement towards a world of prohibition, black market trades and violence. Luckily, Head2Head Novelties- Canada’s only Marijuana Specialty shop is located in the Queen City for the Regina folk, but the demand throughout the country is on the rise. But then again so is this amazing little store.
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I completely agree. Loved the banana penicillin.