Tobacco.org

blu Cigs Defends Consumer Freedom, Stands Up To Irrational Statewide Smoking Ban Proposals and Tax Hikes on E-cigs 

As the electronic cigarette industry comes under fire, and public officials and lawmakers fight for legislation that would ban e-cigs in places where traditional smoking is disallowed, blu Cigs - which has the broadest online and in-store distribution of any U.S. e-cig vendor - is firing back against false broad-based claims, including those that allege all e-cig companies are marketing to minors. As lawmakers use this new tack in an attempt to vilify an entire industry, blu has taken proactive precautions to ensure minors cannot purchase its e-cigarettes - using the same process that alcohol and tobacco companies must mandatorily use to verify age for all online and phone purchases, each and every time. Additionally, blu has consciously chosen flavors that align with adult lifestyles - from "Peach Schnapps" and "Pina Colada," to standard flavors such as "Classic Tobacco" and "Java Jolt." blu does not offer flavors with traditional adolescent appeal like fruit punch, bubble gum, or chocolate. Jason Healy, President of blu Cigs comments, "We maintain the absolute highest standards when it comes to the retailers we choose, so to make these false accusations and call them out as irresponsible when it comes to e-cigarette sales is negligent. Our retail partners operate to the highest standard - and aggressively I.D. all customers for each and every sale."

Jump to full article »

Pitt County Men Convicted In Cigarette Smuggling Ring  

Two men, one from Greenville, the other from Winterville, have been convicted in a federal investigation. Prosecutors say they helped traffic contraband cigarettes from North Carolina to four other states.

The U. S. Department of Justice says 39-year-old Emad Hasan Tawfiq Wshah of Winterville and 40-year-old Mamoun Hasah Wshah of Greenville were busted in "Operation Smoke Screen," a two year undercover investigation of Middle Eastern men suspected of trafficking cigarettes. Also indicted were 55-year-old Sobhi Sulieman Shehadeh of Roanoke Rapids, 26-year-old Nabil Nafiz Mustafa of Greensboro and 24-year-old Omar M. Nijim of Brooklyn, New York.

The group was indicted in February 2011 on forty counts. Authorities say the group purchased what they thought were stolen cigarettes and "export only" cigarettes, and shipped $21 million worth through North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey and New York. Taxes on cigarettes in North Carolina are lower compared to New York and New Jersey.

Jump to full article »

• Xu Bing on His Plans to Light a Giant Cigarette at the Aldrich Museum, Even Though He Doesn't Smoke 

At the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut, Chinese artist Xu Bing is showing some highly addictive work. His installation, called “Tobacco Project,” uses the eponymous poisonous leaf as its muse and medium, turning the material into maps, books, and printed poems that confront the omnipresent ills of a nicotine-dependent culture.

At the exhibition’s opening this coming Sunday, January 29, Xu will light a 42-foot-long cigarette for his piece “Traveling Down the River.” The sculpture will slowly burn on top of a replica of a famous Chinese scroll painting by Song dynasty artist Zhang Zeduan, commenting on the relentless spread of smoking across China: studies have shown that the country has the largest number of smoking-related deaths in the world, yet two thirds of Chinese people think smoking does little or no harm to their health.

In this Q&A, BLOUIN ARTINFO asked Xu Bing what made him choose tobacco as a medium, and what cigarettes mean to him. He also explained his own personal history with tobacco. . . .

l issues.

Why did you choose cigarettes as the dominant medium for the show?

In 1999 I visited Duke University to give a lecture. When I entered Durham I was immediately aware of the scent of tobacco in the air. Friends explained to me that the Duke family was built on a tobacco fortune, and thus Durham had come to be called “Tobacco City.” Moreover, because the Duke University School of Medicine excelled in treating cancer, Durham has also come to be known as the “City of Medicine.” A multifaceted connection exists there between tobacco and cultural history. . . .

Since the initial show at Duke, I went on to expand the show to the Shanghai Gallery of Art in 2004 — there is a deep historical connection between Shanghai and Durham as a result of the tobacco trade that flourished at the beginning of the 20th century — and then to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond in 2011, where collectors Carolyn Hsu-Balcer — whose family has a long-standing connection to tobacco — and her husband, René Balcer, encouraged me to pursue the history of tobacco in Richmond. The Aldrich contemporary art museum in Ridgefield will be the project’s only venue in the New York area. . . .

When I treat tobacco as a material and come into close contact with it, I realize that it should not be the object of further subjective judgment. It has already taken on the burden of too much social significance. I don't want my work to function as little more than a contribution to the body of tobacco-related propaganda. There is no reason for me to spend my energy saying something that everyone already knows. By viewing tobacco as something neutral, by returning to its innate qualities, I am simply engaging the material in a discussion, in an exchange. If the material is approached with a sense of moral or ethical judgment, then its true aspect will never be visible.

Jump to full article »

Alleged cigarette smugglers indicted in Charlotte  

Eleven men have been indicted in Charlotte and accused of conspiring to pay more than $7.5 million in cash for over 400,000 cartons of cigarettes they believed had been stolen.

Some of the suspects also are accused of laundering money through legitimate businesses they owned or controlled.

The men are charged with conspiring to receive and transport across North Carolina and South Carolina Marlboro cigarettes they thought had been stolen in Virginia and Tennessee.

But unknown to the defendants, they were dealing with undercover law enforcement agents and officers.

The cigarettes purchased during the sting had a wholesale value of more than $15 million. . . .

The indicted defendants: Ahmed Samy Hosny Kareem, also known as "Sammy," Kamal Zaki Qazah, also known as "Keemo," Tha'er Ismail Ayyad, also known as "Old Man" and "Wild Man," Wael Mahmoud Salem, also known as "Tony," Zafer Ramadan Kafozi, also known as "Uncle Jack," Ziad Hashem Najjar, also known as "Z," Murad Ayyad, also known as "Mike," Nasser Kamal Alquza, Khaled Fadel Ibrahim, Jose Calderon-Silver and Hesham Rahman. . . .

During a dinner meeting in Charlotte in January 2011, one of the suspects explained how he purchases cars in the United States and ships them overseas as a way to launder money.

Jump to full article »

OUR VIEW: Will smoking issue burn again?  

It’s been a pleasant two years for those among us who like to eat out or visit a tavern, but don’t care for the smell and taste of cigarette smoke. North Carolina’s ban on indoor smoking in restaurants and bars turned the calendar on its second anniversary Jan. 2.

While the smoke in the state’s restaurants and bars has cleared in the past two years, the controversy spawned by the law has not. And an effort to amend the law could become an issue again before the Legislature. . . .

One revision we’d see as reasonable is an exemption for business establishments that prominently label themselves as allowing smoking. Under such a requirement, the public clearly would be made aware of smoke in the air. Nonsmokers could steer clear, but smokers could enjoy their habit without the inconvenience of going outside to smoke.

Yes, those who don’t like our idea – such as Guilford Health Director Merle Green – and who say the point of the law is health protection for workers as well as patrons just aren’t persuasive. If the smoking ban was totally about health matters, then why were any exemptions allowed at all? If the law is going to allow exemptions, we see the one we pose as being as valid as any.

Jump to full article »

Men Charged With Cigarette Scheme In South and North Carolina 

Eleven men have been charged with running a multimillion-dollar cigarette trafficking and money laundering operation in North and South Carolina.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reports that federal court documents unsealed last week detail the charges against the men, who were arrested in November.

The documents say the men bought 6,800 cases of Marlboro cigarettes at half their market price from people they thought had stolen the merchandise. In reality, they were undercover law enforcement officers.

Jump to full article »

NC fails when it comes to tobacco control, says American Lung Association  

In its annual State of Tobacco Control report, the American Lung Association gave each state a grade based on four different categories. How did the North Carolina do? Let's just say this report card is not worthy of hanging on the fridge anytime soon.

In three out of four categories, the Old North State failed. The American Lung Association issued failing marks to North Carolina in tobacco prevention and control spending, smoke-free air and its tobacco tax. In cessation, though, the state received a C. Click here to download the report and find out how North Carolina compares to the rest of the nation.

Jump to full article »

College toughens no-smoking policy 

Carteret Community College officials plan to strengthen their smoking policy after receiving complaints of violations by students and staff during the fall semester.

That was the word from Carteret Community College President Dr. Kerry Youngblood during the CCC Board of Trustees meeting held Tuesday in the McGee Building boardroom.

Dr. Youngblood said he had received a letter in late November from two students who have tobacco allergies that complained about students and faculty violating the policy. He has also observed students and staff not smoking in the designated smoking areas.

"I think we need the wording of the policy to be more succinct," he said. "I've not been happy with the level of compliance on campus, so we're asking that the language in the policy be clearer for faculty and students."

Jump to full article »

Gaston College bans smoking  

When Gaston College students returned to classes after Christmas break, they found a slightly altered environment.

As of Jan. 1, the college became tobacco-free. The new rule applies to all three campuses - Dallas, Belmont and Lincolnton.

About six months ago, the N.C. Community College system had 30 tobacco-free campuses, but Gaston wasn't on the list.

Jump to full article »

Applications for Golden LEAF Foundation Scholarships due March 1  

Information and applications for the 2012-13 Golden LEAF Foundation scholarship program are now available at CFNC.org/goldenleaf. A total of 215 awards will be offered to first-time recipients to assist with tuition at participating institutions for the 2012-13 academic year.

The awards are valued at $12,000 ($3,000 per year for up to four years) for students from qualifying counties attending a participating North Carolina campus and are funded by a grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation. The Golden LEAF Scholars Program is administered by the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA).

Jump to full article »

Kannapolis bans smoking in city parks  

Following Concord, Harrisburg and Cabarrus County's lead, Kannapolis will now ban smoking and the use of tobacco products from all city parks.

Over the past 18 months, Kannapolis officials have been working with the Cabarrus Health Alliance, Concord, Harrisburg, Midland, Mount Pleasant and Cabarrus County to develop a tobacco use ordinance for city parks and facilities.

Harrisburg, Concord and Cabarrus County have already banned use of tobacco products in their parks and recreation facilities. Kannapolis City Council voted unanimously on Monday to ban it from Kannapolis' parks and recreation facilities.

Jump to full article »

• Teens lobby Asheville to ban tobacco sponsorship from Bele Chere 

A group of local teens wants the city to put its Bele Chere-designated money where its tobacco-free mouth is this summer for the region's biggest festival.

Two Asheville High students representing several area Teens Against Tobacco Use chapters addressed the city's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department board Monday, lobbying the group to eliminate any tobacco company sponsorships from this year's Bele Chere festival.

"Continuing to accept tobacco sponsorships at Bele Chere is not standing by the healthy living that Asheville is known for," said Nyrobi Tyson, a junior at Asheville High. "Asheville is sending a message to all the youth who attend Bele Chere that smoking is OK, acceptable and commonplace."

Bele Chere has been host to a booth promoting Camel tobacco products since 2009, brought to the festival by mobile marketing group BFG Communications. The agency is responsible for a year-to-year sponsorship which is worth about $15,000 a year.

But Asheville Parks director Roderick Simmons said BFG Communications represents a number of big brand companies and chooses which brands to promote through booths and tents at Bele Chere. Other BFG clients include Coke, Pepperidge Farms, Miller and Quiznos Subs.

Jump to full article »

• Group might turn Reynolds building into an upscale hotel  

A Greensboro developer is considering breathing new life into the former R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. headquarters by converting it into an upscale hotel.

Reynolds and Quaintance-Weaver Restaurants and Hotels said Thursday they have entered into an agreement that gives the developer most of this year to study the feasibility of renovating the 22-story building, which opened in 1929.

The potential goal: carving out 120 to 180 rooms, as well as a restaurant, bar and event space.

The majestic building that inspired the Empire State Building has been closed more than two years, after Reynolds moved its downtown employees into the neighboring Plaza Building in 2009. . . .

Quaintance said he is impressed with how well Reynolds has maintained the building. He said he was "pleasantly stunned" that he could detect no odor of smoke in the building, which he credited to Reynolds' decision in the 1950s to installing a ventilation unit that drew 100 percent of the air from outside. . . .

*

A small museum depicting the history of tobacco is on the ground floor of the former R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. headquarters. Credit: 2004, DAVID ROLFE/JOURNAL

*

A portrait of Richard Joshua Reynolds, founder of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., hangs in the lobby of the Reynolds Building. Credit: 2004, DAVID ROLFE/JOURNAL

Jump to full article »

Sexton: Debate over cigarette labels goes on 

Campbell, 32, seemed to be a bright, engaging guy. He's also a smoker, so he was a logical choice to ask for an opinion about the graphic warning labels the Food and Drug Administration wants to plaster on cigarette packs.

So I showed him a few. Would these labels make you quit? . . .

"What a joke," Campbell said after looking at the printouts. "No. I already know (cigarettes) aren't vitamins. I know they're not good for me."

Campbell's attitude matches almost exactly that of other smokers similarly surveyed over the past week or so as they gathered outside offices and buildings to indulge in a habit that's already made them feel like enemies of the state.

The issue came up again because of a legal maneuver in a long tug-of-war between the FDA and the tobacco industry. The FDA proposed slapping a series of nine grisly labels on cigarettes, presumably because they might goose some smokers into quitting or cause impressionable youngsters to think twice about starting.

Five tobacco companies -- including homegrown R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Greensboro's Lorillard Inc. -- responded the way you'd expect. They rolled out the lawyers. . . .

Here's the thing, though. It's not likely that the U.S. Court of Appeals, or the Supreme Court in the inevitable next step, or the lawyers on either side will have considered the real-world, practical effects espoused by folks such as young Mr. Campbell.

"Cigarettes are highly addictive, yes," he said. "If the aim is to get people to quit, there are plenty of avenues for that. Another one is not going to make a difference.

Jump to full article »

• Cigarette smuggling costs country billions in lost tax revenue  

Because it levies a comparatively low tax on tobacco, North Carolina has long been a clearinghouse for an illicit trade that poses a threat to national security and public health, according to several experts and federal government reports.

Cash revenues generated by these networks have financed other types of organized crime and even ended up in the hands of terrorist organizations, including Al Qeada. Moreover, health advocates say the availability of bootlegged tobacco has allowed cigarette use to seep further into segments of society that are most vulnerable, including children and the poor, a phenomenon costing the nation untold sums in added health care costs.

"It's not a victimless crime," said Mariam Ozatlin, U.S. government affairs director for SICPA Product Security, a Switzerland-based company that provides counter-smuggling technology to 47 states.

Tax patchwork

Since 1992, federal and state governments have steadily increased excise taxes on tobacco in a bid to reduce smoking and increase revenues. But the lack of uniformity has created a patchwork where no two states have the same rate.

The disparities have allowed smuggling to flourish . . .

The practice is fueling debate between tobacco companies, who want to eliminate excise taxes, and anti-smoking groups, who want to equalize them across the board by raising rates in low-tax states so that smokers pay the same price everywhere in the country. . . .

Big-time smugglers have learned they can easily buy from retailers in bulk, transport the cigarettes at minimum expense and watch the profits pour in. A single van stuffed with 2,940 cartons, or 29,400 packs, netted Gomez an estimated profit of $132,300, according to court documents.

And that is small potatoes compared to other cases documented around the state and country that have made multi-millionaires out of ill-gotten gains. A ring operating out of Charlotte until its leaders were arrested in 2002 made more than $8 million in four years, at least part of which was sent to Hezbollah . . .

When U.S. Attorney Thomas Walker announced the trial results for Gomez in a news release earlier this month, he noted that cigarette smuggling is easier in states such as North Carolina that do not stamp cigarette packaging before packs are sold at retail.

Such "tax stamps" provide proof that all taxes were paid by the wholesaler. . . .

This year, two Republican state lawmakers - Sen. Fletcher Hartsell Jr., from Concord, and Rep. Bill McGee, from Clemmons - introduced bills in their respective chambers to revive stamping in North Carolina.

Though the measures have not made it out of committee, Hartsell said the bills have forged an unlikely alliance between tobacco companies and anti-smoking groups, with the former viewing stamping as a tool to mitigate counterfeiting and the latter to improve public health.

Jump to full article »