As I understand it, the tobacco grown in KY, NC, etc., is considered high-grade and relatively expensive. The nicotine used for “vaping” products is apparently derived not from tobacco grown in KY but rather from cheap, low-quality tobacco grown in China and various 3rd world countries.
I’m not a tobacco user, and I don’t have a dog in this fight. But it seems to me that Mitch’s war on vaping is less about public health and more about appeasing the tobacco growers in his state who are being hurt by the vaping craze. At the same time, one would think that a federal age 21 rule on all tobacco products would negatively impact revenue not just vaping but also traditional cigars, cigarettes, chew, etc. But maybe that’s less of a concern for the tobacco farmers than the short term goal of putting the brakes on the vaping thing,
Surprised to hear they still grow tobacco in KY. When I was a kid in 70’s, tobacco fields were all over rural KY. But nowadays I never see a tobacco field. All seems to be corn or soybeans.