Demand for smoke-free housing on the rise in Metro Vancouver

California’s Sonoma County is going to be the envy of Lower Mainland residents who have to put up with the secondhand smoke of their neighbours.

Starting on May 10 next year, all new multi-unit residences in the county will be smoke-free. Then, as of January 12, 2013, the ban will extend to all existing multiple-dwelling units like apartments and condos.

While Sonoma’s smoking prohibition may appear to be too ambitious for Canadian jurisdictions, a more modest approach could work.

Vision Vancouver’s Tim Stevenson is open to the idea that future multi-unit premises should be completely smoke-free.

“Even the people who smoke say if they try to live together, it’s so much smoke, they’re practically choking to death on each other’s smoke,” Stevenson said in a phone interview with the Georgia Straight.

However, the four-term councillor also noted that he’s concerned about how this measure would impact a certain sector of the city’s population. Having served on the board of the First United Church, he has seen how cigarettes are important to many Downtown Eastside residents dealing with addictions and mental illness.

“To ask them not to smoke or tell them they can’t smoke, they would be faced with the choice of not having living space or being out on the street—or trying to lie,” Stevenson said. “And the problem that that gets into is other residents in the building who don’t smoke report them, and then you get conflict.”

But, outside the Downtown Eastside, Stevenson sees no problem with having new smoke-free residential buildings. According to him, the city doesn’t have a smoking ban in its housing properties.

The proposal of putting in smoking bans in future buildings in Canadian municipalities was among the recommendations made by UBC endocrinologist Stuart Kreisman.

Writing in the October issue of the B.C. Medical Journal, the St. Paul’s Hospital doctor stated that this will help meet the demand for smoke-free homes.

When he was living on the top floor of a condo building in downtown Vancouver, Kreisman had to endure the secondhand smoke wafting up from units below him. He later asked to be transferred to the bottom floor.

Should smoking ban be extended?

IT’S been nearly four years since the smoking ban was first introduced in the Isle of Man.

The legislation was welcomed by many but greeted with dismay from the licensed trade and many of the island’s 18,000 smokers.

Four years on, it has become, for the most part, an accepted part of life in the Isle of Man.

Now public health officials are looking to extend the ban – and are preparing to go to public consultation on legislation to ban smoking in cars when young children are present.

The Isle of Man could have been a pioneer, with proposals to ban smoking in public places first mooted in 1986.

But it was not until March 30, 2008, that the island’s public buildings, workplaces and work vehicles went smoke-free – by which time similar bans were already in place across the UK and in Ireland.

Bushy’s brewery boss Martin Brunnschweiler believes a ‘sledgehammer was used to crack a nut’.

He said: ‘It wasn’t great for the licensed trade but we were expecting it to be worse. It was the older people I felt sorry for, the people in the clubs whose whole social life was affected.

‘Personally, I was disappointed that the Isle of Man could not come up with a tailor-made solution for a small community rather than just following the UK and Ireland.’

Douglas publican Geoff Joughin believes business in pubs is at an all time low and the smoking ban is partially responsible.

He said: ‘It is a major contributory reason for more home drinking and a considerable rise in alcohol consumption due to unmonitored amounts being consumed.

‘In parts of Europe, smoking bans are being reconsidered. In Germany and Holland smoking areas have been reintroduced and in Spain the new government has stated it is going to relax the ban because of a severe loss of tax revenue at a very difficult economic time.’

Ivan Bratty, food safety manager in the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, is responsible for enforcing the ban.

He said: ‘As far as premises are concerned, we haven’t had any problems at all. We have not had any complaints for some time.’

What remains a problem, however, is smoking in work vehicles and Mr Bratty is urging people to inform on those who breach the ban.

Mr Bratty said written warnings had been sent to a couple of companies.

He said: ‘Smoking in work vehicles has been a problem and we would like that to stop. But unless we get a registration it’s difficult to find out who they are. We need more people to inform us if they see it happening.’

One downside of the smokefree legislation has been the piles of cigarette butts that can build up in the street outside bars and offices.

Mr Bratty said: ‘A lot of licensed premises are very good at clearing up first thing in the morning. The piles of butts are usually outside offices with office workers treating the doorway as an ash tray.’

Prior to the smoke-free legislation, an island-wide Stop Smoking Service, Quit4You, was launched.

The aim of the service was to provide free practical advice, support and vouchers for Nicotine Replacement Therapy to anyone who wants to quit smoking from Specialist Stop Smoking Advisors.

It has proved to be extremely popular. To date, nearly 1,900 people have attended the Quit4You service, with quit rates around 50 per cent – which are comparable with the UK.

Anita Imberger, tobacco strategy co-ordinator said: ‘The majority of clients who attend our Quit4You Stop Smoking Clinics have been very positive about the benefits of the smokefree legislation.

‘Many clients who come to see us report that they have felt more anti-social and stigmatised because they have to smoke outside. For some people, this has been one of the key factors motivating them to quit.

‘Others report that the smoke-free legislation has helped them reduce the number of cigarettes they are smoking when they are out at pubs or at work. For those who are quitting and trying to remain smoke-free, no smoking in the pubs and restaurants has really helped them achieve this goal.’

Anita said the legislation has raised people’s awareness of the risks of secondhand smoke and a lot Quit4You clients have already stopped smoking in their house, or restricted it to certain areas.

Latest surveys show that 19.1 per cent of adults in the Isle of Man smoke, which is significantly fewer than the North West of England (22.5 per cent).

Give your family a priceless gift this year: Stop smoking

For years, anti-smoking messages have gone out to the Marin community through GAS, the Great American Smoke Out, and the Take a New Year’s Resolution to Stop Smoking campaign.

The 22nd annual New Year’s Resolution to Stop Smoking campaign, a national effort sponsored by Pharmacists Planning Service Inc., runs through Feb. 12 (Super Bowl day).

The stop-smoking campaign has helped a great number of Americans kick the habit. Not only are these people helping themselves, they are helping their neighbors by reducing secondhand smoke, which has more than 400 chemicals the average person inhales — 43 of which are known to cause cancer.

Pharmacies, public health and nonprofit organizations throughout the nation are participating in an all-out effort to alert and educate the public to the dangers of smoking
Pharmacists Planning Service Inc. has received national awards and honors for its ongoing efforts to better the public’s health. Its many campaigns include starting GAS, Diabetes Month, Poison Prevention Month, and efforts to ban the sale of cigarettes from all pharmacies.
PPSI, a California nonprofit corporation, offers a large number of health awareness programs to promote public health and education. PPSI is the originator and sponsor of National Poison Prevention Month. Approximately once per month it implements a new program on the website. To extend its research and incorporate as much information as possible, PPSI also offers links to other health education websites. Thank you for your continued interest and support.

Tobacco jar produced in Austria for export

I have been researching online to attempt to find the maker of this apparently black statue whose hat comes off. On the bottom it says "Austria 5" and numbers above that "8058." There also is a very small rectangle with "ZT" next to it. Any information would be helpful.
A: You have a figural tobacco jar. It was made in Austria as marked. Figural tobacco jars were produced in Austria for export to the United States and other countries by numerous pottery companies. The jar you have falls into two categories of collector interest — Black Memorabilia and Tobacco Jars. I think it was made prior to World War I. Potential dollar value is $100 to $200.

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Q: My husband received a small painting — round and about the size of a dinner plate. The floral design is painted on a thin piece of wood, almost like a veneer layer. The artist was his great-great grandmother, who lived from 1840 to 1905, so it is fairly old. The back of the piece is cracked in several places, although the picture in the front is not damaged. Do you have any idea of where I could find someone who might be able to restore this type of work?

Growers disappointed with tobacco board

Mohammad Farooq and his brother Sahibzada, who grow tobacco in Swabi district, told Dawn that tobacco companies forced them into buying tobacco-specific pesticides from them hurting their business interest.

They said they struggled to buy pesticides for maize and wheat from dealers after ignoring them at the time of buying pesticides for tobacco.

“Companies tend to dictate their terms to us. They use their tobacco purchasing agreements signed with growers to their advantage,” Mr Sahibzada said.

Under the Martial Law Regulations-487, tobacco companies are required to submit to the PTB the details of their requirements for the ensuing tobacco crop by October 21 every year. On the basis of those details, they make agreements with growers for purchases.

When contacted, secretary PTB Nauman Bashir rejected the growers` complaints and said the board took all possible steps under the regulations to protect the growers` economic interests.

He said had PTB not taken care of the growers` interests, fights would have broken out between the growers and tobacco companies.

“It is because of us that growers get a fair price of their yields every year and enjoy a protected and stable market,” he said.

Khalid Khan, president Kissan (farmers) Board, said tobacco companies didn`t give growers hybrid seeds free of cost. “They charge Rs1,000 for supplying hybrid seeds for one acre against the previous rate of Rs200,” he said.

However, the PTB secretary rejected Mr Khalid`s stand and said: “It`s impossible. No company can do that.”

He said all tobacco companies supplied free hybrid seed of RGH-4 variety and others to growers, adding that not a single rupee was paid by growers for hybrid seeds.

A PTB official, however, said growers bore the cost of hybrid seeds when companies faced their shortage.

Mr Bashir said the requirement for Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco for the upcoming crop had been fixed at 67 million kilogrammes, almost one million kilogrammes less than that of the last year.

He said the measure had been taken to protect the growers` interest.

“Last year, some small tobacco companies signed purchase agreements with growers but later backed out and didn`t procure tobacco to the loss of growers.

However, this time we have ignored these companies resulting into reduction in the FCV requirements for the next cropping season,” he said.

Tobacco earnings projection revised

This year's tobacco sales will earn farmers much lower than earlier estimated, with a shortfall of up to US$30 million, Tobacco Control Commission (TCC) has said ahead of the closing of the market this month end.

In an interview with the press in Mangochi on Monday, TCC Chief Executive Officer Bruce Munthali disclosed that the development is due to lower prices than expected towards the end of this year's market, although the prices are relatively higher than before.

"We have revised the earnings; we will not realise the US$300 million as we projected earlier. The market will be getting about US$270 million, but indications are that we might get up to US$280 million looking at how the market is performing," said Munthali.

During a similar period last year, the market realised about US$410 million at a unit price of US$190 dollars per kilogram from the same volumes, according to TCC.

The market is yet to sell the remaining 15 million kilograms which Munthali said could be finished by 30 November as President Bingu wa Muthalika is said to have issued a directive that all the tobacco on the market should be sold either by the traditional buyers or government.

TCC chairperson Gamaliel Bandawe, in a separate interview, said this year's sales low earnings have not just affected the farmers but they have affected other markets that benefit from tobacco.

"Farmers have not bought items as they used to do during the market season and that for sure has affected the economy at large," said Gamaliel.

However, the TCC CEO said the issue of poor tobacco prices has not affected the Malawi market only as other neighbouring countries have witnessed the worst prices as evidenced by the influx of tobacco volumes from there.

The tobacco farmers are expected to produce a maximum of 160 kilograms of burley and a maximum of 25 million kilograms for the next season, as TCC expects better prices due to production as required by the demand.

Tobacco's beneficial uses give farmers hope

Warning: The subject of this exploration will constrict your blood vessels, choke your windpipe and dispatch you to an early grave, 5 million of you a year. The most lucrative crop the Americas have ever seen, it kept the British at bay, kept the enslaved entrapped, kept Hollywood sexy. Until it didn't anymore.

Stipulation: Deep bows to the great public health triumph of wrestling Big Tobacco to the mat and changing human behavior. Never before were millions persuaded to give up a highly pleasurable, relatively cheap habit because it was bad for them. And never since.

But: Tobacco itself refuses to die. It's stubborn. It's meant to grow here. The seeds are tiny as a flea and germinate like crazy. In less than a month, you can have a robust green crop that's good for much more than smoking. You can grow vaccines in it. Extract protein from it. Make drugs from it.

Ten years after Maryland became the only state to use its tobacco settlement money to pay hundreds of farmers to quit growing the evil sot-weed, it's turning out that tobacco has redemptive virtues. Nobody needed to bother exploiting them before; the stuff was so fabulously successful for 400 years as a vice. Even nicotine, the natural and highly addictive chemical in tobacco, has its benefits.

People smoked in part because a cigarette could calm you down and pep you up. Now research studies are exploring exactly how nicotine may safely halt cognitive decline and help those with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, depression, schizophrenia and attention problems. The pure nicotine in the smoking cessation patch used in these studies is extracted from an American product that American farmers know how to grow.

If you drive around Southern Maryland, you can still spy it. Amid the corn mazes and alpaca petting opportunities, the pick-your-own peppers and the thick crop of McMansions, there'll be a couple acres of plants that look like soldiers — upright, sturdy, tall as a man, with bushy leaves bigger than the blade on a ceiling fan.

You'll come upon a weathered barn, with some of its boards missing. But on closer examination, you'll see the slats are opened with a precise symmetry. They let in the air that cures the tobacco hung on its stalks up in the rafters.

Inside the barn, the sheaves, as it has been said, feel like velvet and smell like money.

Today's Featured Tobacco Winner

Lorillard Inc (LO) pushed the Tobacco industry higher today making it today's featured tobacco winner. The industry as a whole closed the day down 0.5%. By the end of trading, Lorillard Inc rose 73 cents (0.7%) to $108.69 on light volume. Throughout the day, 909,219 shares of Lorillard Inc exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1.8 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $106.64-$109.51 after having opened the day at $107.23 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $107.96. Other companies within the Tobacco industry that increased today were: Star Scientific Inc (CIGX), up 1.7% and Vector Group (VGR), up 1.6%.

Lorillard, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes in the United States. The company offers 43 different product offerings under the Newport, Kent, True, Maverick, and Old Gold brand names. Lorillard, Inc. Lorillard Inc has a market cap of $14.64 billion and is part of the consumer goods sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 14.6, equal to the average tobacco industry P/E ratio and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 31.6% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

TheStreet Ratings rates Lorillard as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, growth in earnings per share, revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

Conn's Blumenthal praises smokeless tobacco rules

Connecticut U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal is praising baseball's new labor deal that will limit players' use of smokeless tobacco.

The agreement does not ban smokeless tobacco during games, but players agreed not to carry tobacco packages and tins in their back pockets when fans are allowed in in the ballpark. They've also agreed not to use smokeless tobacco during pregame or postgame interviews, and at team functions.
Blumenthal was among four senators who urged the union to adopt a ban.
Blumenthal said Tuesday that the decision "is a step toward putting MLB on the right side of history and public health."

He said professional baseball players should be positive role models and not celebrity endorsers of what he calls "an addictive product that kills."

WHO Applauds Australia's New Tobacco Packaging Legislation

"Australia has every reason to be proud of this historic accomplishment," says Dr Shin Young-soo, the World Health Organization's Regional Director for the Western Pacific. "The legislation sets a new global standard for the control of a product that accounts for nearly 6 million deaths each year. It also reinforces Australia's compliance with its obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the guidelines to which encourage countries to restrict or ban the use of logos, colours and brand images. The legislation will save lives, and it solidifies Australia's well-deserved reputation as a leader in tobacco control. All countries and areas in the Western Pacific Region should follow Australia's good example."

Australia's Parliament passed the legislation on 21 November 2011. Beginning on 1 December 2012, all tobacco products sold in Australia will have to be in the same standard dark brown packaging with matte finish.

Tobacco giant Philip Morris International has threatened to sue Australia to prevent the country from implementing the plain packaging legislation.

"It's typical of the tobacco industry to respond aggressively with lawsuits and threats of lawsuits whenever a new tobacco control measure, evidence-based and protective of the public's health, threatens to reduce its profits," Dr Shin says. "We urge the industry to accept the judgment of Australia's Parliament."

Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of preventable death. In the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region, it is estimated that two people die every minute from a tobacco-related disease. Of the world's cigarettes, one in three is smoked in the Region.

On World No Tobacco Day 2011 (31 May), WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan bestowed a special award to Australian Health and Ageing Minister Nicola Roxon for her tireless leadership in tobacco control, in particular her efforts to make plain packaging for tobacco products a reality in Australia. Dr Chan has chosen "tobacco industry interference" as the theme of World No Tobacco Day 2012.

Cigarette Smoking Leads to Coke?

Cigarette smokers may be more inclined to crave cocaine, according to a study published this week (November 2) in Science Translational Medicine, which found that the nicotine can result in gene regulation changes that boost the response of mouse brains to the drug.

Scientists have long recognized the trend that drug users tend to start with cigarettes and alcohol before moving on to harder drugs, thus tagging the legal substances with the label “gateway drugs.” But there was no mechanism to explain the trend, and the idea has been a continued source of controversy.

In the current study, epidemiologist Denise Kandel at Columbia University, New York, who originally reported on the “gateway drug” idea in 1975, and her husband Eric, a Nobel Prize-winning neurobiologist who spoke with The Scientist just last month about his research, teamed up with other colleagues to see if there was a molecular basis for the theory. The researchers found that mice first treated with nicotine showed enhanced addiction-related behaviors in response to cocaine—specifically, they were 78 percent more likely to go to locations where they had received cocaine previously and 98 percent more active overall. “We found that nicotine works on the DNA-packaging system, known as chromatin,” lead author Amir Levine of Columbia told Nature, resulting in the increased expression of drug-addiction-related gene called FosB.

The researchers also analyzed epidemiological data of 1,160 high school students and found that most cocaine users begin using coke after they start smoking, and that smoking increased the risk of addiction to the drug.

“This paper is exciting because it is one of the first well-defined characterizations of gene priming by a drug,” neurobiologist Alfred Robison of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York told Nature.

Excise Tax on Cigarettes in Albania Could Be Raised to Curb Smoking

The excise tax on cigarettes in Albania could be raised by 20 Leks per pack from currently 70 Leks to 90 Leks per pack in 2012, daily Standard reports citing sources from Albania’s Ministry of Finances. The draft is being completed and will soon go to Parliament for voting.

The increase of the excise tax is seen by authorities as a preventive measure to keep people away from smoking. It is estimated that around 40% of Albanians smoke regularly.

Muhammadiyah: No Smoking Area is a Must

Jakarta Provincial Government commitment in enforcing law in no smoking area (KDM) received support from many sides. One of them is from Muhammadiyah which is now applying no smoking area in all Muhammadiyah area. Therefore, all Muhammadiyah offices, from charitable institution, schools, and official forums of this institution are free from cigarettes.

“If residents start aware of the health importance, so residents’ life quality will increase,” stated Syafiq A Mughni, Head of PP Muhammadiyah of Health Sector, during Launching No Smoking Area National in All Facilities Environment and Muhammadiyah Forum, in Muhammadiyah Central Building, Jakarta, Monday (11/14).

He explained this policy is relevant with Act No.36/2009 about health development which aims to improve awareness, desire and society healthy life as an investment for human resources. “This is as form of Muhammadiyah seriousness in supporting healthy life movement,” he told.

He urged that Muhammadiyah people especially to apply healthy lifestyle by not smoking because this smoking lifestyle affects much towards socio-economy society. “Based on Survey socio-economy BPS shown, cigarette consumption is at the second position after rice. This is clearly concerning, because many other necessities that more important than cigarettes and better,” he added.

He explained that recently, Muhammadiyah has 500 healthcare facilities such as hospital or clinic, 15,000 schools from kindergarten up to Senior High School, 200 high education institutions and 350 social institutions in Indonesia. Therefore, Muhammadiyah people as well as non Muhammadiyah must obey the rules in Muhammadiyah buildings.

Head of Jakarta Health Department, Dien Emawati added that Jakarta Provincial Government continuously commits to realize Jakarta towards smoke free, among them is Governor Regulation No. 75/2005 about No Smoking Area and Bylaw No. 2 /2005 about Air Pollution Handling. In Governor Regulation No. 75/2005, several areas are set as smoke free area such as public area, healthcare facility, teaching-learning area (school), kid’s activity area, worship area and public transport.

This is strengthened with the Governor Regulation No.88/2010 mentioned that, smoking room inside building is abolished. Thus, the smoker must do smoke outside building. Moreover, Jakarta Provincial Government has also held socialization about Governor Regulation No. 88/2010.

Meanwhile, based on the data of smoking prevalence from Demographic Institute of Indonesia University stated that the number of smokers in Jakarta is increasing. Every year, it can increase about 1 percent or more. In 2001, the number of smokers in Jakarta reached 27.7 percent. It is increased into 31.2 percent in 2004. From this number shows female smokers increased. Then, it is increased again in 2008 into 35 percent from population of 9.057 million people and female smokers reached 8 percent from the total of active smoker.

From the result of this research, from 25 types of household expenditure, in fact expenditure for cigarette is ranked in the second position after rice expenditure which ranked in the first position. Evidently, four out of ten poor households have highest in cigarette expenditure than rich household category.

As for the average number of smoker household expenditures is reached Rp 113 thousand per month in distributing cigarette. It is higher than the direct cash assistance (BLT) which given to give subsidy for poor household amounting to Rp 100 thousand per month.

Cigotine Holds Cigarette Butt Cleanup at Occupy Wall Street

"Cigotine supports the 99%," said Steve Bayonne, President, Cigotine LLC, in reference to the predominant Occupy Wall Street slogan. "We know that a demonstration of this magnitude is an incredible test of will and character. We wanted to do our part to make the conditions better for those who are standing up for what they believe in."
Throughout the day, volunteers of the "Cigotine Clean-Up Crew" walked through Zuccotti Park where the demonstration is held, picking up cigarette butts and speaking with the protesters.
"More than a month later, the protesters' passion is undeniable," said Bayonne. "But after so much time, with so many inhabitants, the park is understandably cluttered and messy. We hope that our cleanup efforts and distribution of GO disposables made a positive difference in the surroundings."
While performing the cleanup, the team also distributed free Cigotine GO disposable e-cigarettes to smokers, in hopes of getting them to refrain from using traditional cigarettes in the public park, which is illegal throughout New York City. The GO disposable is a one-time use product that lasts for approximately the equivalent of 1-2 packs of traditional cigarettes. Once finished, it can easily be disposed without mess, or risk of fire, odor or other negative effects.
"This protest is about doing what's right," Bayonne added. "Cigarettes are banned in public parks, and of course, littering is never encouraged. By using the GO instead of a regular cigarette, smokers will not only improve the demonstration environment, but they'll also be able to satisfy their cravings within the confines of the law."
Cigotine's proprietary design and function offers the same tactile experience as traditional cigarettes, but does not need to be burned, and does not give off ash, smoke or residual odor that could harm other protesters or make them uncomfortable.
Nationwide, users have begun using Cigotine smoking devices in places where tobacco products are not allowed, and as a full-time alternative to traditional cigarettes.

Supplier, Distributors Charged In Marijuana Ring

Thomasville officers, along with NC ALE agents and Davidson County Sheriff's Deputies, arrested 5 people involved in a marijuana distribution ring, on November 3rd.

After obtaining search warrants, officers searched a residence on Carolina Avenue and found over 12 ounces of marijuana.

The homeowner, Chad Keever, was charged with possession with intent to sell and distribute marijuana, maintaining a dwelling to keep controlled substances and possession of marijuana.

Further investigation led officers to a residence on Walker Road, just miles down the road, where marijuana was found packaged for the purpose of sale.

In this incident, Vickie and Randy Freeman were charged with possession with intent to sell and distribute marijuana, maintaining a dwelling to keep controlled substances and possession of marijuana.

A third search warrant was executed for another residence on Walker Avenue, just houses away. The homeowners, Tyler Freeman and Cynthia Watts, were charged after over 12 ounces of marijuana were found in the house.

Freeman is the son of the couple charged with marijuana possesion in the previous Walker Road residence.

Tyler Freeman and Cynthia Watts were charged with possession with intent to sell and distribute marijuana, maintaining a dwelling to keep controlled substances and possession of marijuana.

This investigation was conducted based on complaints from the community.

The ALE Special Agent In-Charge said it is always outstanding when law enforcement can locate the main source and supplier of the controlled substances; this was a team effort to improve the quality of life for the community.

Smoke shop to open next week despite Tobacco Tax Act

A Dakota First Nation VLT lounge and smoke shop will open Wednesday in southwestern Manitoba, confirmed Canupawakpa Chief Frank Brown -- with or without the VLTs.
"We're going to go with what is there on the 9th," Brown said Friday. "They're expected to come before then, but they may not be. We're crossing our fingers that they will be."
Brown and members of the non-treaty Dakota First Nation plan to sell Mohawk cigarettes at a shop located on the site of a former general store near Pipestone, about 100 kilometres southwest of Brandon.
The Mohawk cigarettes would be sold at approximately one-third the total cost of a provincially taxed cigarette, with taxes collected on behalf of the Dakota First Nation, not the province.
The smoke shop is to be combined with a temporary casino establishment that Brown says will help fund the construction of a permanent casino at Oak Island Resort in Oak Lake.
Once up and running, Brown said the gaming lounge will eventually hold between 75 and 100 VLTs, which have been purchased from the United States.
Brown had to postpone the original Nov. 1 opening date, citing a delay in finalizing its First Nation-created gaming licence and tobacco sales regulations, and a "minor" detail that needed to be worked out with the Mohawk nation, though he wouldn't provide specific details.
Brown confirmed Friday that both operations will open together next Wednesday at noon in the same building, and invited the public to attend.
"It's open to whoever wants to come," Brown said.
"It's an open invitation."
To mark the event, he has also sent invitations to several federal and provincial ministers, including Dave Chomiak, Manitoba's minister responsible for gaming.
The provincial government has maintained that the Tobacco Tax Act applies province-wide -- including on First Nations -- and prohibits the sale of non-Manitoba-marked tobacco products.
Three Manitoba Dakota First Nations -- Sioux Valley, Dakota Plains and Canupawakpa -- filed a comprehensive claim in federal court in 2009 against the federal government, alleging the Dakota were wrongly labelled as refugees in Canada.

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Tobacco smuggling into Japan surges after disaster

Tobacco smuggling into Japan surged in the April-June period as domestic stocks ran short after the March 11 disaster, with around 300,000 illegally imported cigarettes seized by authorities, a roughly 8.7-fold increase from a year earlier, the Finance Ministry said Monday.

Many cases involved individuals hiding tobacco inside their suitcases, while Tokyo Customs detected a group in May which attempted to smuggle some 30,000 cigarettes from the Philippines, according to the ministry.

The ministry also reported 4,226 businesses failed to declare a total of 193.3 billion yen of tariffs and consumption tax imposed on imported goods in the year from July 2010 through June this year, leading the authorities to impose some 13.5 billion yen of back tax.

Pub to move smoking area after complaint

A LANDLORD has been ordered to move a smoking area following complaints from a neighbour.

Karl Chapman, of Navigation Yard, Chelmsford, brought a licence review of the Two Brewers, in Springfield Road, to Chelmsford Council’s licensing and regulatory committee.

The commercial pilot for an international airline, who has lived in his flat for three-and-a-half years, said loud music comes from parties in the pub’s function room, noise from customers using the smoking area under his bedroom window prevents him from sleeping before midnight on Friday and Saturday evenings and loud and foul language from people using the outside area can be heard throughout his flat.

A condition of the existing licence states the playing of amplified sound in the function room and pub is only allowed if the sound is not clearly audible at the boundary of any residential premises, so as to be a nuisance.

Although Mr Chapman made calls to the out-of-hours environmental health officer on several occasions, he only received one visit, on August 13.

The officer agreed the noise would make it difficult to sleep, but no evidence of noise levels were presented.

Michael Collins has been landlord for two years. He said Mr Chapman never approached him about the problems.

Mr Collins said: “If that neighbour had come in to see me we could have talked about it. We’ve had no other complaints.”

“I’m a very reasonable person. I don’t like noise myself and I certainly wouldn’t allow that language.”

Mr Collins offered to move the smoking area if it would help, saying it was “not desirable, but possible”.

Mike Harris, chairman of the committee, said “conflicting evidence” on both sides made the committee’s task difficult, but he ruled the smoking area should be moved by November 30.

He also said ground surrounding the existing smoking area must only be used as a car park and customers should be discouraged from using it as a drinking area.

After the hearing Mr Collins said he was considering his options, including an appeal against the decision.

VCig Support The Rise Of The Electronic Cigarette

Thinking about investing in an electronic cigarette? Plenty of people are in the same position but unsure of where to turn. Those who are intrigued by the latest smoking revolution but in need of an extra helping hand can now head over to VCig’s online shop and take a look at their diverse range of smokeless cigarette products and electric cigarette accessories. Launched on 29th September, this brand new site caters for all smokers looking to make that all-important lifestyle change, even those with a heavy habit.

Much has to be said about the benefits of from switching to smoke-free cigarettes. Vapers (a common name for electric cigarette users) have reported that they feel fitter within just a few days, lose that unpleasant smoky smell from their clothes and their home straightaway, and save a hefty sum of money every year just by opting for e-cigs instead of tobacco products. The main advantage behind the e-cig is the fact that it doesn’t contain any tar, ash or carcinogenic chemicals, allowing users to enjoy the physical act of smoking without the guilt that can accompany the habit. And, if the aim is to quit smoking completely, customers can gradually lower the level of nicotine within the specially-designed cartomizers and let their body adjust to inhaling less of the drug.

But the question on everyone’s lips is this: what makes VCig different to the hundreds of electronic cigarette retailers advertising their services on the web? Well, the team behind the organisation believe that they’re the freshest, friendliest e-cigarette company in the UK, and are dedicated to bringing curious consumers the best electronic cigarettes at truly exceptional prices. Ben Austin, Managing Director, is passionate about bringing smokers a great alternative to traditional cigarettes:

“I set up VCig because, being an ex-smoker myself, I wanted to offer smokers in the UK a quality electronic cigarette that can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime. I know first-hand how difficult it can be to quit. After trying everything on the market I finally bought myself an e-cig and haven’t turned to real cigarettes since. No other product gives you such an authentic smoking experience”.

After testing out the brand new website, customers have reported that it’s incredibly easy to browse the extensive catalogue, which offers e-cigarette starter kits, refill packs and even disposables. At first glance, the site looks fantastic, but once customers delve a little deeper into its functionality it’s clear that it’s been built with inexperienced vapers in mind, guiding first-time customers through the process and providing them with all the information they need to make the right decision.

VCig retails e-cigarette kits that offer varying vapour flavours and even offer disposable electronic cigarettes for lighter smokers (or individuals looking to give the product a try but restrained by a tight budget!) And, to encourage new vapers to give the electronic cigarette a go, VCig are currently offering fantastic online discounts. Customers can simply make their selection, head to the checkout page and enter ‘PRESS09’ into the promotions box to receive an impressive 10% off their entire order. VCig are also able to pack and post products for free if an individual order comes to more than £50.

Alongside the website, the company also runs a Twitter account (vciguk), which announces all of the latest news about the company and the electronic cigarette industry as a whole. You can also head on over to Facebook and ‘Like’ the fan page for exclusive discounts and competitions. VCig is committed to providing a community where vapers can share their feedback and e-cig success stories, too – great for first-time buyers who need a little bit of inspiration and motivation.

Cancerous radioactive particles in cigarette tobacco

Tobacco has been in use since ancient times in different forms. Smoking of tobacco has and is always a topic of debate owing to ills effects and systemic problems. It is known that even second hand smoke is not good for your health and can even lead to genetic abnormalities. It was compelling to read reports about tobacco leaves that can contain radioactive material. This radioactive material can lead to increase in cancer among people consuming this tobacco.
What do reports reveal about radioactive material in tobacco leaves?
The tobacco leaves used in making cigarettes contain radioactive material, particularly lead-210 and polonium-210. The radionuclide content of tobacco leaves depends heavily on soil conditions and fertilizer use. Soils that contain elevated radium, lead to high radon gas emanations, affecting the surrounding tobacco crop. Radon rapidly decays into a series of solid, highly radioactive metals (radon decay products). These metals cling to dust particles, which in turn are collected by the sticky tobacco leaves. The sticky compound that seeps from the trichomes is not water soluble, so the particles do not wash off in the rain.
The major source of the polonium is phosphate fertilizer,which is used in tobacco crop. The trichomes of the leaves concentrate the polonium when tobacco is dried and processed.

Illegal Cigarette Trafficking Ring Busted in Georgia

But he says the case culminating with raids Wednesday and fifty arrest warrants was not about the stupid or unlucky. But the greed and the green, and not paying cigarette taxes.
"Some of these people that were suspicious of us, greed always won out in the end. The people that kept coming back, greed is the reason why they did so," said Brewer.

Cigarettes and cigars in a warehouse were props for undercover deals. Near the end of roughly four years he spent undercover in an underground economy.

Playing a criminal making cigarettes and cigars with fake tax stamps or none at all available to wholesalers and retailers across Metro Atlanta and beyond.

Brewer says Wednesday an undercover partner counted more than a million dollars from six undercover deals in the warehouse.

Defense lawyer Manny Arora says he represents four arrested retailers and Howard Manchel represents one; they say their clients are not guilty.

"If you can tell a fake tax stamp from a real tax stamp you're quite an expert," said Arona. "They're convenience store operators and they're out there and they re doing their best to supply what their customers need," added Manchel.

A state department of revenue official says counterfeit Newport cigarettes suspected of coming from China.

Brewer says many of the black market cigarettes in Metro Atlanta these days are illegal Chinese counterfeits; which may carry health risks beyond even the known deadly dangers of smoking.


Visit also other tobacco blogs:
http://allcigarettes.vacau.com
http://www.onotole.byethost11.com/
http://www.onotole.0fees.net/

Price of cigarettes to go up by nearly 8 per cent

If there are any people left out there who still smoke, life hereabouts will be becoming a shade more expensive.
The Finnish government is proposing to Parliament a ten per cent increase to the tax on all tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, small cigars, and pipe and cigarette tobacco.
The tax on the finely-cut tobacco that is used to roll cigarettes would go up by no less than 25 per cent. Previously a 15-per-cent tax increase was planned for the roll-your-own-cigarette tobacco.

On average, the price of cigarettes is expected to rise by 7.8 per cent and price of roll-up tobacco by 18.7 per cent. The aim of the tax increase is to put an additional EUR 53 million into the government’s purse.
The government has also approved a bill, according to which all supplies displaying tobacco brand labels are to be kept out of sight in shops and kiosks.
The display ban aims to prevent the tobacco industry from dodging the law by capitalising on its trademarks for example in the sales of rolling paper or cigarette boxes.

Lawmakers Propose Bill to Stop Smuggled Tobacco Trade

Three Democrat lawmakers are banding together to bring an end to smuggled tobacco. Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) introduced the Smuggled Tobacco Prevention (STOP) Act.

The legislation would collect hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue, decrease the consumption of tobacco, and combat criminals and terrorists who profit from the illegal trade of tobacco.

Under the STOP Act, packages of tobacco products would be required to be uniquely marked to help law enforcement efforts to track and trace tax payments on tobacco products. It would also ban the sale, lease and importation of tobacco product manufacturing equipment to unlicensed people.

Furthermore, the bill would prevent the illegal re-entry of tobacco products intended for export by requiring export warehouse proprietors to file reports with the Treasury Department. It also would increase penalties for violating the law and establish new offenses, according to a release posted on Lautenberg's website.

"Black market cigarettes are robbing our coffers of a critical revenue source that we need to pay for vital domestic programs like health insurance for children," Lautenberg said. "By stopping the sale of illegal cigarettes at below-market prices, we can reduce smoking and fight tobacco-related diseases."

Read about Japan Tobacco, news and articles.

Added Durbin, "This bill will help us crack down on tobacco smuggling and keep black market cigarettes out of the hands of kids. At the same time, we'll help the federal government and states collect the taxes they're owed on these products, so they have the resources necessary to continue much needed tobacco prevention and other health programs. I hope we're able to quickly move this bill to the floor."

The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that tobacco smuggling in the country costs federal and state governments at least $5 billion in lost revenue annually. "Tobacco products are the single largest, illegally trafficked, legal product on the planet. But current federal laws to stop smugglers are outdated and fail to give law enforcement officials the tools they need to enforce the law," Doggett said. "Snuffing out smuggled tobacco, whether sold here or shipped across our borders, can cut crime, raise revenue and boost health."

The unique, high-tech identification mark that the proposed legislation would require is similar to one California is already using, according to the lawmakers. In California -- the first state to implement such a system -- cigarette tax revenues have increased by an estimated $152 million per year. This requirement, along with increased permit and record-keeping requirements throughout the supply chain, will enable enforcement officials to distinguish real tax markings from counterfeits; identify who applied the marking and initially sold and purchased the product; and obtain other information useful for tracking, tracing and enforcement purposes.

United States Attempting To Ban The E Cigarette

The E cigarette offers an alternative that claims to be safe and comes with none of the same health risks to the smoker or those around them.

But the United States government feels that such claims cannot be substantiated and as a result they feel action needs to be taken to ban it from the country.

The F.D.A and what they can and cannot do

The F.D.A has the power to approve of any food substance or drug for the safety of the public. Products such as Nicorette gum are marketed as a healthy ways to help kick the smoking habit while still getting a nicotine fix. Such products are known as cessation products.

The F.D.A can regulate Nicorette gun, but because the E cigarette only offers an alternative for adult enjoyment and makes no claims to help smokers actually give up the habit, the F.D.A has little power in this case.

Matt Salmon spokesman for the Electronic Cigarette Association Speaks

Advocates of the E cigarette such as spokesman of the Electronic Cigarette Association, Matt Salmon, says that the E cigarette delivers nothing more than a mixture of nicotine and water vapor and emits no carcinogens. These are what make regular cigarettes bad, primarily because of the second hand smoke.

Are threats to ban the E cigarette impacting use?

The Electronic Cigarette Association would not give exact sales figures, but says that hundreds of thousands of people use the product and will continue to use it. The average age of a user is forty plus.

Life sentence for man who had 583 marijuana cigarettes

A 37-year-old trader who admitted trying to smuggle 583 marijuana cigarettes but said they were for his personal use was sentenced to life in prison by a Dubai court this morning.

PR, from Uganda, told the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance in May he did not intend to sell the drug. There was a total of 427 grams of marijuana, records said.

PR was also convicted of consuming a banned substance.

According to his testimony, PR said he had smoked 60 of the cigarettes on top of his building in Al Hamriyah area.

The drug was found when police searched a vehicle left at a petrol station for more than an hour.

What would happen if Americans stopped smoking?

The number of New Yorkers who smoke dropped to an all-time low of 14 percent this year, Mayor Mike Bloomberg announced late last week. That’s down from 22 percent in 2002 and translates into 450,000 fewer adult New Yorkers who smoke than did a decade ago.
The New York drop mirrors a nationwide decline, where smoking rates have fallen by over half since the 1950s. But that still leaves 46 million American smokers — what if they all kicked the habit, too? That’s the world “After Tobacco,” a new book from economic researchers Peter Bearman, Kathryn Neckerman and Leslie Wright, tries to imagine.

The authors estimate that if all smoking ceased in 2006, 2.8 million premature deaths would be avoided between then and 2025. Health spending would decrease by $211 billion, or 1.52 percent, in that same time period.

The economic effect on public programs, however, would be more of a mixed bag. States’ Medicaid costs would noticeably decrease: lower-income populations have higher rates of smoking and the negative health outcomes that follow. But states would also lose revenue from cigarette excise taxes, which amounted to $13.75 billion in 2006. If Americans stopped smoking altogether, states could see a 1.4 percent decrease in revenue, according to a chapter from Hunter College’s Howard Chernick.

A similar, spilt-effect would be true for Social Security. With Americans living longer, Social Security would bear the increased cost of supporting people for a longer time. But those costs are slightly offset from an increase in healthy workers, who “tend to earn more and retire later,” leading to higher contributions. On balance, “After Tobacco” estimates the end of smoking means a slight, 1.58 percent increase in Social Security outlays.

The end of smoking would even ripple as far as corporate philanthropy. Between 1997 and 2005, the tobacco industry made over $143 million in charitable donations, 42 percent of which went to public health and community development programs. Much, if not all, of that giving would presumably dry up with tobacco manufacturers making smaller profits. Nationally, the impact wouldn’t be giant, with tobacco only currently making up about 3 percent of corporate giving. But the authors speculate that in cities where tobacco giants are headquartered, like Winston-Salem or Richmond, nonprofits would notice the decline.

This is by no means to say that lost tax revenue or higher Social Security outlays is a reason to rethink anti-smoking campaigns; the end of tobacco use would be a huge public health victory, one that stands to prevent millions of premature deaths. Rather “After Tobacco” illustrates how entrenched tobacco has become, and remains, in the American economy. Despite huge reductions in smoking over the past 50 years or so, a complete halt to tobacco use would touch just about every public program and private sector in many, varied ways.

Passive Smoking and Hearing Loss: Are Links Building Between the Two?

We all know the extreme health risks associated with smoking but what about the general negative impact on health. Leading hearing aid specialists Amplifon look at the growing research regarding a link between smoking and hearing problems.

Passive smoking has proved itself to be a major negative health issue that affects millions of people worldwide, as well as plenty of individuals in the UK. It has been linked to a higher risk of cancer, stronger correlation with heart disease, as well as a range of lung-related illnesses. The biggest risk group is understood to be children under the age of 18, who are at risk of the above as well as other conditions, from asthma to sudden infant death syndrome.

However, research is increasingly linking secondary smoking with hearing problems, in turn forcing individuals to seek professional help or technological devices to provide them with the clarity of hearing they deserve. In its capacity as the world's leading dedicated hearing aid specialist, Amplifon wants to highlight this issue to people around the world and lessen the chances of aural problems developing unnecessarily.

Following a detailed analysis of statistics, specialist journal Tobacco Control revealed in November 2010 that there was a strong pattern emerging between smoking and poor hearing. Former smokers were significantly more likely to have hearing impairments and, while the risk was not as strong among those who had never smoked, nearly one in ten had low-to-mid frequency hearing loss while over one in four had high frequency hearing loss.

There were also stronger findings among former smokers that underlined how passive smoking, even at low levels, would push the progression of high frequency hearing loss that started when they were active smokers. Further research to investigate the link was demanded by authors, though they would not have to wait long.

In July 2011, the links were found to be stronger than ever. NYU School of Medicine researchers revealed in that month's issue of Archives of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery that exposure to tobacco smoke nearly doubles the risk of hearing loss among adolescents. Perhaps the most worrying issue regarding this hearing loss was that over 80 per cent of affected teenagers in the study were not aware of any hearing problems. Dr Anil Lalwani of NYU explained: "Milder hearing loss is not necessarily noticeable. Thus, simply asking someone whether they think they have hearing loss is insufficient."

Amplifon is keeping track of research linking secondary smoking to hearing problems and is asking people to be responsible for their health as much as possible. Barry Downes, Head of Audiology at Amplifon, said: "While we all know the dangers of smoking, many people simply may not know just how far the activity goes in terms of affecting overall health."

"We are actively developing technology to support people affected by poor hearing, though the cure has never been a match for prevention. Hearing problems will continue to affect people around the world and we're dedicated to helping them, but we also want to highlight that many hearing issues are avoidable, such as hearing loss due to continuous exposure to loud noises such as machinery or music and a proactive approach will provide comfort for years to come."

Cigarette vending machines banned in England

Cigarette vending machines were banned in England on Saturday, a move the government hopes will cut the numbers of children smoking.
Anyone caught selling cigarettes from the machines, usually found in pubs and clubs, could face a fine of £2,500 ($3,900, 2,900 euros). Pubs will still be able to sell cigarretes from behind the bar.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Smoking is one of the biggest and most stubborn challenges in public health. Over eight million people (around 15 percent) in England still smoke and it causes more than 80,000 deaths each year.
"Cigarette vending machines are often unsupervised, making it easy for children to purchase cigarettes from them.
"The ban on cigarette sales from vending machines will protect children by making cigarettes less accessible to them -- we want to do everything we can to encourage young people not to start smoking in the first place."
The British Heart Foundation charity said that around 200,000 youngsters start smoking regularly in England each year, with around 11 percent of regular smokers aged 11 to 15 getting their cigarettes from vending machines.
It is illegal to sell tobacco in Britain to anyone under the age of 18.
Elsewhere in the United Kingdom, cigarrete vending machines are to be banned in Northern Ireland in February, while Scotland and Wales are committed to introducing a ban.
Meanwhile, in April 2012, all large retailers in England and Scotland will have to take all tobacco off display, with small shops having until April 2015 to comply.
The government is due to launch a public consultation on whether cigarettes should be sold in plain packaging with no logos or branding.
Smoking in enclosed public places was banned in England in July 2007.

Smoke-free law a success in Calhoun

Results of a statewide-survey conducted indicated a very high rate of compliance with the Dr. Ron Davis Smokefree Air Law one year after it was implemented. The survey conducted in over 1,000 restaurants and bars statewide, including 12 restaurants and six bars in Calhoun County, indicated a 96 percent compliance rate with the law.

On behalf of the Calhoun County Public Health Department, I extend my thanks to Calhoun County bar and restaurant owners and managers for the great job they have done in complying with the new law.

In June 2011, staff members of the Calhoun County Public Health Department and the Calhoun County Substance Abuse Council conducted a lunch-time survey in downtown Battle Creek asking people how they felt about the smoke-free law one year after its implementation. Out of 100 people surveyed, 94 said they liked the law and enjoyed breathing smokefree air when patronizing our restaurants and bars.

The smoke-free air law has been successful in reducing Calhoun County residents' exposure to secondhand smoke. In addition, the Michigan Department of Treasury's report, "The Early Impact of Michigan's Smoking Ban," showed that Michigan's smoke-free air law has had little to no impact on the state's food and beverage industry.

Since its implementation in May of 2010 among taverns with beer/wine only, night clubs, family restaurants and fast-food facilities, total sales tax collections have increased from 2.73 to 2.84 percent. The results are based on a year-over-year statistical comparison of statewide sales tax collections from this industry.

However, Calhoun County still has a long way to go to reduce smoking rates and tobacco-related illnesses in our county. According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Survey conducted in 2009, 25.8 percent of Calhoun County adults smoke compared with 19.8 percent for Michigan. Additionally, in 2009, 190 adult deaths were linked directly with tobacco use. Smoking is also an issue for pregnant women, with 24.9 percent of Calhoun County women smoking while pregnant (Michigan Vital Statistics), and teens, with 18.8 percent of high schoolers reporting that they had smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days (2009-10 MiPHY data). Tobacco also takes its toll on the economics of the county. In 2009, $50.9 million were spent on smoking-related direct health care costs. Approximately 32 percent of these costs ($16.5 million) were paid by Medicaid.

Vending machine cigarette sales banned

The sale of tobacco from vending machines has been banned across England, in a bid to curb children’s ready access to cigarettes and to help adults who are trying to quit.

It is estimated that 35 million cigarettes are sold illegally through vending machines to children every year.

The evidence shows that most adult smokers started smoking before they turned 18, with more than 300,000 under-16s trying smoking for the first time each year. Of the 11 to 15 year olds who smoke regularly, 11% say they buy their cigarettes from vending machines, says the Department of Health.

Now, anyone selling cigarettes from a vending machine could be fined up to £2500. Any person found guilty of displaying cigarette adverts on a vending machine could face imprisonment for up to six months, or a fine of £5000, or both.

The ban, which came into force on Friday, is part of the government’s tobacco control strategy, which it published in March.

This pledged to cut smoking rates by the end of 2015 from 21% to 18.5% or less among adults and from 15% to 12% or less among 15 year olds.

Announcing the ban, which took effect on Friday, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said that smoking remained “one of the biggest and most stubborn challenges in public health.”

“Cigarette vending machines are often unsupervised, making it easy for children to purchase cigarettes from them,” he said. “The ban on cigarette sales from vending machines will protect children by making cigarettes less accessible to them – we want to do everything we can to encourage young people not to start smoking in the first place.”

Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies added: “We believe this will reduce the numbers of new smokers and support people who are trying to quit.”

Adult smoking rates have fallen from over 45% in the early 1970s to 21% in 2008, but treating smoking related diseases is estimated to cost the NHS around £2.7bn per year and the wider costs to society of smoking are estimated at almost £14bn per year.

Woman held up servo to steal cigarettes

Police say a woman drew a knife on staff at a service station in Sydney's northwest before demanding West cigarettes and escaping with the full force of the law on her tail.

Local officers, PolAir and the dog squad all played a part in the capture and arrest of the woman, who was found near the Dural service station she'd robbed shortly before 8.30am (AEST) on Tuesday.

She was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday, charged with robbery while armed, assaulting police, custody of a knife in a public place and negligent driving.

Navy prevents tobacco smugglers from reaching Gaza

The Israel Navy captured two Palestinians with dozens of bags of tobacco worth hundreds of thousands of shekels, destined to be smuggled from Egypt to the Gaza Strip, the IDF announced Tuesday.

The Navy identified a fishing boat heading in the direction of moorings in the southern Gaza Strip. The boat was heavy in the water; a fact that indicated it was carrying a great deal of weight on board, in contrast to other fishing boats.

The two Palestinians on board the boat only surrendered after Military forces on board the Dvora Reconnaissance boat fired in the air.

They were transferred to the Ashdod port for Shin Bet questioning in order to determine if they were connected to terror organizations or whether the smuggling attempt was criminally motivated.

BOE: Tobacco prevention efforts working

Efforts to combat teenage tobacco use and perception appear to be winning, while alcohol and marijuana use continue to be a popular choice among high school students.

Those were among the findings discussed at Tuesday evening's Cabell County Board of Education meeting by Anne McGee, the project director of the Cabell County Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership. The data shared came from more than 3,200 sixth- through 12th-grade students who took the PRIDE Survey during the 2010-2011 school year.

Created in 1982 by professors at Georgia State University and Western Kentucky University, PRIDE Surveys were adopted nationally by federal law in 1998 as an official measurement of adolescent drug use in America.

Cabell County started asking students to anonymously fill out the surveys in 2002, then using it again for the 2004-2005, 2006-2007, 2007-2008 school years before resuming it last year.

"Most of our students are making the right choices," McGee said, citing several areas of encouraging feedback.

Each year the eighth-grade students have taken the survey, results have shown a decline in the percent of students who said they had used alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or other illicit drugs in the previous 30 days. Marijuana went from about 16 percent in 2002 to just under 10 percent in the past year's survey. Alcohol fell sharply from about 23 percent in 2002 to about 10 percent in 2010-2011. And tobacco fell from about 21 percent in 2002 to about 10 percent last school year.

In addition, the age of first use has risen a full year since 2002 to 131/2-years-old.

McGee said tobacco prevention has made the greatest strides, according to the survey results as a whole. The perception of risk of tobacco was pretty consistent among all middle and high school students at about 88 percent. Alcohol and marijuana, meanwhile, showed a decline in students' risk of perception from sixth-grade on to juniors and seniors, dropping from 80 percent to 70 percent for alcohol and 86 percent to 65 percent for marijuana.

"They're getting the message about tobacco," McGee said. "We've got to work on alcohol and marijuana."

Tobacco use, however, is still higher than McGee said they want it to be. Nearly 20 percent of students reported to have used tobacco in the pervious month, and about 29 percent indicated they'd used it in the past year. Alcohol was at 22 percent in the past month and 43 percent in the previous 12 months.

McGree said the monthly figures are the most telling of how many students are using drugs, alcohol or tobacco on a regular basis. Among the illicit drugs, marijuana was above and beyond other narcotics. Nearly 17 percent had reported using it in the previous month, with 25 percent saying they had used it the past year.

Cocaine, uppers, downers, inhalants, hallucinogens, heroin, steroids, ecstasy, meth, prescription drugs, pain killers and over-the-counter drugs were all reported at less than 6 percent in the previous month and less than 8 percent in the previous year.

Focus groups conducted by two Marshall University psychology professors earlier this year found that students are keenly aware of the drug usage problems among their peer groups. Students felt that community efforts have not been effective and efforts had been pushed aside. They also want community leaders speaking out more on the issue, harsher penalties and more activities for youth.

Imperial Tobacco shares rise despite Spanish cigarette price war

A cigarette price war in Spain will hit Imperial Tobacco's revenues this year, but the company's confidence about the outlook has given a lift to its shares.

In a trading update Imperial said its full year performance was in line with expectations, despite total revenues rising just 2%. The effect of the Spanish price war - which has now been halted - has been offset by strong performances in eastern Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Imperial said recent price rises in Spain - its third biggest market after Britain and Germany - would help make up for a delay in raising prices in the UK. Martin Deboo at Investec said:

According the Spanish tax authorities, [recent price rises] have restored Imperial's key brand Fortuna to its pre-price war price point of €3.85 per pack. (Market leader Marlboro has also moved back to its pre-price war level of €4.25 per pack).

Castle Rock designates areas for medical marijuana gardens

The City Council approved interim zoning restrictions for group medical marijuana gardens Monday without discussion or audience comment — a far cry from boisterous earlier meetings about the topic.
The rules grew out of a state law in July allows medical marijuana patients to band together and form collective gardens. Previous meetings on the subject were heated, with medical marijuana supporters saying their rights were being restricted and opponents worrying that the city's children would be damaged if the gardens were allowed.
The emergency rules restrict the collective gardens to two "highway business district" areas near Interstate 5. Most of the land is east of the highway and away from the city's downtown and residential core. The council also set a number of restrictions, including requiring a city building permit and not allowing the plants to be seen from the street. By state law, the gardens cannot have more than 10 member patients and no more than 45 plants.
The emergency rules are in effect until January. The city Planning Commission will draft the city's final ordinances, which will be presented to the City Council for formal adoption in December.

Foreign Industry Groups Issue Fresh Warning on Cigarette Plain Packaging Bill

Camel and More cigarettes manufacturer JTI said Australia risks facing intellectual property disputes before the World Trade Organization (WTO) while the British American Tobacco Australia (BATA) threatened to sue the government if the legislature passes the bill.


The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) also warned of political backlash from countries to be impacted by the legislation. In Monday's Senate committee inquiry into the federal government's proposed law, KAM said Kenya's tobacco industry is a main source of revenue and foreign exchange, so a diplomatic fallout with Australia is possible.
KAM told the Senate inquiry that Australia should defer the plain-packaging laws and enter into talks with nations to be affected by the same laws requiring cigarette box labels to indicate only the brand name.


Business Europe warned that the bill is inconsistent with international treaties on intellectual property negotiated through the WTO and threatens to undermine the protection of intellectual property around the world.

Industry groups from Quebec, the Ukraine, Chile, Brazil, Peru and East Africa have also criticized the controversial bill being supported by political parties and health experts.

Authorities seek man in cigarette thefts

Officers from at least two jurisdictions are looking for a man who they believe is stealing cigarettes from area businesses.

Michigan State Police at the Brighton Post said the man walked into the Genoa Township Walgreen's on Grand River Avenue at around 9 p.m. Aug. 29 and asked for three cartons of cigarettes.

Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte said the man also hit the Walgreens at 10081 E. M-59 in Hartland Township at about 9:30 p.m. Aug. 29.

In both incidents, the man asked the store clerk for cigarettes, typically Newports and Marlboros, and fled with the merchandise without paying as the clerk began to ring up the purchase.

Bezotte said man also went to the Smoker's Depot on Sept. 2, taking off with cartons of Newport and Marlboro cigarettes.

A Smoker's Depot clerk followed the man outside and saw him get into a silver Chevrolet HHR, police said.

The thief is described as a white male in his early to mid-20s. He has a shaved head, thin build and may also have facial hair, including a goatee.

Police say the man also has lots of tattoos on both forearms and the left side of his neck.

Tobacco store owner gets 6 years for hiding $60M

The owner of a chain of south suburban tobacco shops was sentenced to more than six years in prison for hiding and failing to report more than $60 million in cash receipts from his business.

Abbas Ghaddar, 43, was also ordered to pay more than $5.45 million in back taxes for the scheme that helped fund his lavish lifestyle in Lebanon, where he built a luxurious home, purchased a farm worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and became the successful owner of a soccer club, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

Receipts from Ghaddar’s Tobacco House Inc. stores showed that they generated more than $102 million in gross revenues, at least $60 million of which were cash receipts.

But Ghaddar deposited less than 1 percent of that into his corporate bank accounts and declared little, if any, on his corporate tax returns, prosecutors said. He also filed false federal income tax returns from 2003-05; failed to file returns from 2006-08; and filed false sales tax returns with the state from 2002-09. Ghaddar pleaded guilty in June.

Tobacco Outlet store robbed; shot fired at clerk

Police said employee Dee Kritchard, 51, was behind the counter at 400 Euclid Ave., when two men with handguns entered the store about 5:45 p.m. One of the men pointed a handgun at her. She told him to get out of the store.

The gunman responded, “Give me the money (expletive) or I will shoot you in the head.” He fired a shot in her direction but did not hit her.

Lynda Deeds, 63, an employee who was in a back room, walked into the main room to see what had happened. The second gunman threatened to shoot her and then demanded money.

The clerks handed over the cash and the gunmen left the store, heading south on Third Street.

Police said the clerks were threatened with death several times.

A manager came to the store while police were investigating to help officers review store video of the robbery. The manager said she works at the Southeast 14th Street store and she was robbed there two weeks ago as she was leaving the building. She said the man who fired the gun inside the store at 400 Euclid Ave., on Monday looked like the man who robbed her at the Southeast 14th Street store.

Advisers question American Tobacco Trail expenses

A member of a key advisory board says Durham officials need to look harder at why the bids for an extension of the American Tobacco Trail came in about 38 percent higher than expected.

The $2.1 million overrun “indicates the possibility of a serious error in judgment” by the engineers who designed the project and the city staffers who worked with them, said Toby Berla, a member of the Durham Open Space and Trails Commission.

Berla told fellow commission members last week that an architect and engineer he’d spoken to about the project were “not at all surprised” that the trail extension and its associated bridge over Interstate 40 had come in as high as they did.

“I don’t mean to start pointing fingers in the middle of a crisis, but I also don’t think we can just look the other way and pretend that nothing went wrong,” Berla said in an email to his colleague. “A $2 million underestimate on a project of this scope is huge, and demands a clear explanation of what went wrong.”

Berla’s comments came as he and other members of the trails commission — one of two advisory panels involved in the matter — began weighing their response to the city’s plan for covering the overrun.

Administrators intend to raise additional monies by draining construction reserves for four sidewalk-and-bicycle-lane projects in other parts of the city.

All told, they’re looking to push the trail’s construction budget up to $9.6 million, enough to cover the overrun plus a generous contingency. The trail is a 22-mile path for cyclists and pedestrians from just south of the West Point on the Eno city park in Durham to the Jordan Lake game lands in Wake County.

The prospect of taking construction money away from the sidewalk projects troubled some commission members, among them the panel’s new chairman, Duke University professor Will Wilson.

“The thing is, it’s robbing Peter to pay Paul,” said Wilson, who is among a slate of candidates vying for an appointment to a vacant County Commissioners seat. “We just don’t know what to think right now.”

Wilson’s emails to other commission members indicated he was especially bothered because one of the sidewalk projects targets a stretch of Hillandale Road he considers a danger to bicyclists.

But he and Berla both indicated that the trails commission could come down in favor of keeping the Tobacco Trail on track, despite members’ qualms.

Completion of the American Tobacco Trail has been a high priority for the commission and other pedestrian-and-bike advocates for years.

Read more: The Herald-Sun - Advisers question American Tobacco Trail expenses