Yup. They're closing here, too.

Shocking

Nashville started taxing and charging a 'per ryo machine' fee to them recently as well...

Baucus was paid to snuff these businesses out. I guess Philip Morris can't take the competition...when competition is allowed in this formerly capitalist society.

The Indians can start doing it on tribal lands...

Electronic cigarettes are next. I saw a story on the evening news today demonizing EC's

Yeah, I saw that too Irving...especially noticed the part about the FDA wanting to regulate electronic cigarettes exactly as tobacco cigarettes...

It must***** them off, with the amount of taxes they're not stealing...

American Lung Association freaking out about them as well. Hmmm...they could probably shut down if people stopped smoking tobacco and just switched to these huh?

They are predictable, the same playbook everytime they go after something. Here is the news report.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7....

Quote:

The move, backed by major tobacco companies, is aimed at boosting tax revenues.

Lets see how the increase tax revenue works out...

Quote:

A tiny amendment buried in the federal transportation bill to be signed today by President Barack Obama will put operators of roll-your-own cigarette operations in Las Vegas and nationwide out of business at midnight.

Quote:

But a few paragraphs added to the transportation bill changed the definition of a cigarette manufacturer to cover thousands of roll-your-own operations nationwide. The move, backed by major tobacco companies, is aimed at boosting tax revenues.

Faced with regulation costs that could run to hundreds of thousands of dollars, RYO machine owners nationwide are shutting down more than 1,000 of the $36,000 machines.

"I feel it's kind of shaky,'' Wiessen said. "The man who pushed for this bill is Sen. (Max) Baucus from Montana, and he received donations from Altria, a parent company of Philip Morris. Interestingly enough, there are also no RYO machines in the state of Montana. It really makes me question the morals and values of our elected speakers."

This could almost have been pulled directly from Atlas Shrugged.

I think we're closer to 1984 than to Atlas Shrugged. The country formerly known as the United States is such a joke...

The answer is to buy tubes and tobacco (pipe cut, not cigarette cut) and to use this:

I am unclear about what won't be available. Will papers be available?

I knew a man years ago who rolled his own, like in the cowboy movies. Carried a pouch and papers. It looked like a nice relaxing ritual. I mastered the skill sometime later. It's fun.

Also, I grew my own tobacco a few years back. It is easy to grow and a very attractive plant.

JFF since I don't smoke.

ETA - I found this site, no mention of new restrictions, though it may be targeted at another industry if you catch my drift

http://www.rollingpaperwarehouse.com/

That's the machine I use, Randy. Pipe cut tobacco is still $25/lb out here, and ten minutes gets me a pack of cigs for about $1.30.

Couple of years back, bulk cigarette tobacco went from $30/lb to over $80. Only a matter of time 'til they get the pipe tobacco tax increased. Then I'll have to grow it.

Truth...cigarette cut here is $40/lb. and pipe cut is $17/lb.

I cannot, and I mean, CANNOT smoke a commercial cigarette ever again.

We'd been rolling our own with organic pipe tobacco for only a few months, when we went down to Ft. Campbell with a Tupperware container of cigs...well, we sorta underestimated. So, okay, we're in Kentucky and cigs are cheaper there than here...so pop into a store and buy a pack of my former brand (Marlboro Lights). No problem, right? Wrong.

So, Randy and the Smallboy go to unload the car of luggage in front of our motel, and I stop by the little bench out front to grab a smoke. I take one hit and the next thing I know I'm staring up at the sky laying on the curb. I ****ing kid you not. I slowly sit up, I got a lump on my head and I'm lucky I didn't split it open on the curb or on the wrought iron bench. My head is spinning and I feel like I'm gonna hurl. This goes on for HOURS and I was starting to worry that it might be a concussion - but what it was, was my body completely freaking out from the chemicals in the commercial cigs.

I am completely convinced the carcinogens are in the chemicals, not the tobacco.

That's a BIG SAVINGS, Randy. Maybe I can get you and Steph to send me a few pounds in a "care package". I'm good for it. Honest!

BTW, Steph, we've had the same experience. Whenever we miscalculate and have to buy a commercial pack, we've got to be really careful. They don't feel anything like our organic smokes...

I think we could arrange something, Truth. Even with shipping to you, you'd still save money from your local options.

There is a HUGE flavor difference between my former brand (Marlboro reds) and the ones I make here at home, and I no longer even like them a little bit. Now, they mostly taste like chemicals, rather than tobacco. Also, they reduced the gauge of commercial cigs, and they seem tiny now to me. I wonder if others noticed that they're paying a LOT more money, for visibly less product now.

To any one interested I get mine from http://www.tobaccogeneral.com/

Good prices, shipping is high unless you buy a certain amount.

Tienkou...right on the front page is the tobacco we use:



http://www.tobaccogeneral.com/good-stuff....