Cigarettes Are Not Candy

So awhile back I posted some goals for fall.

One of these is to write a letter to the President.  At the time I didn't know what the letter would be about.  I felt I should write to him because I campaigned for him, voted for him and overall think he's doing a good job.  This week however, I learned of a bill he signed which may become the topic of my letter.

It is a bill signed in June to discourage underage smoking. Link to CNN. 

I do believe kids should be discouraged from beginning a gross and deadly addiction.

Among other things, such as larger health warnings and lowered nicotine content, the bill bans flavored cigars and cigarettes.  This includes "grape, peach, strawberry, vanilla, honey, clove..."  

Wait cloves?! 

Back to that in a second.

As a teen I tried smoking.  Most of you already know that or won't be that shocked to find out. 

Never once as a kid did I buy, bum or try flavored cigarettes.  I stuck with Camel lights, non menthol. 

And no it wasn't because of the adorable camel on the package - Joe Cool RIP - or the minty taste as we've covered.  I liked 'grown up cigarettes'.

I don't smoke now due to the health risks (namely, I don't want to die) but cloves were my treat of choice, once I became an adult and only occasionally.  At $7 per pack what kids are smoking them??

So my feelings on the matter are that

*the government should back the heck off.  It's none of their business anyway.

*they are targeting the wrong group, as illustrated by my experiences

*Obama is a former smoker himself, he should support this as a personal choice and none of the govenments business.

It's interesting to note Phillip Morris and other cigarette companies are backing this bill.  Lower the nicotine, you might sell more cigarettes.  Plus all the flavored smokers will be looking for a new fix... 

Maybe there is no connection but it seems a little fishy.

What do you think?  Do you disagree with my view?