[SheLion]

Ok Everyone. This is Big Brother at its worst. Did Guv Davis move to MAINE???

Like other states, Maine has taken numerous steps to reduce smoking among adults and prevent youths from ever starting. Maine has raised cigarette taxes steeply, banned smoking in all public buildings including restaurants and non-Indian bingo halls. As of Jan. 1, 2004, smoking in bars will be outlawed.

OUTLAWED. ISN'T THIS CUTE?  OUTLAWED!

[SheLion]

Puff and Ping and Bump!!!!! What a crock. THANKS PARTNERSHIP FOR A TOBACCO FREE MAINE!

[sgtbono2002]

Remember when they said you allow a dictator to kill the Jews and then pretty soon he kills the Catholics , then the Homosexuals and pretty soon maybe you?? Thats the way with cigarettes, allow them to outlaw cigarettes then its beer and pretty soon it will be your rights to free speech.

[greydog]

But those who wrote the law defend it as fair because it holds all tobacco retailers - whether the corner store or a mail-order business - to the same standards for checking IDs and paying tobacco taxes.

Maine's law, which took effect Sept. 13, makes it illegal for anyone except licensed tobacco retailers to sell tobacco products to consumers in Maine.

BINGO

If you can't tax it (internet) make it illegal.

[tdadams]

"The law is to my advantage," said Mike Discatio, manager of Joe's Smoke Shop and Variety Store in Portland. "It isn't right for people off the street to buy cigars cheaper than I pay.

It's as simple as that. As they say, follow the money.

Many states have banned the shipment of alcohol for years under the pretext of preventing minors from ordering it through the mail. EVERYONE knows that's a crock of bull excrement. In my state, it's an open secret that the local liquor retailers lobby has the legislature in their pocket. No alcohol will be sold here without the retailers getting their cut.

[Republicus2001]

but at the same time I'm sure Maine will be leading the pack for free medical marijuana for pregnant criminal aliens with tuberculosis...

[muleskinner]

...bought direct from Thompson Cigar in Tampa...

He should consider himself lucky...now he can do business with J.R. Cigar - a company that sells REAL cigars, not floor sweepings.

www.jrcigar.com

100X better than Thompson.

[etcetera]

"It also requires tobacco retailers, when taking the first order from a consumer for delivery, to get a copy of a government-issued document that provides the buyer's name, current address, photograph and date of birth."

The first step is registration...

[Tacis]

I don't have time to write anything here, so just review my prvious thoughts.

[tdadams]

Someone really should sue over this. This is an unreasonable restraint of trade, and it wouldn't be too difficult to make the case that the reasoning behind it is specious. Lawmakers have gotten away with passing any law they damn well please (usually to line the pockets of their friends) and have never been challenged on it.

They need to be challenged, if only to send a shot across their bow letting them know that the people are watching them and will not stand for such burdensome over-regulation.

This kind of petty, nanny-state meddling should be an outrage to people who live in a free country and free state

[GeekDejure]

Maine has raised cigarette taxes steeply, banned smoking in all public buildings including restaurants and non-Indian bingo halls.

It must really piece them off that they have NO power to stick there tax and Tax and TAX laws firmly up the butts of the Indians too, eh???

.

[george wythe]

New York in 2000 prohibited deliveries of Internet and mail-order shipments of cigarettes to consumers, and Congress is considering a law that has many similarities to Maine's.

Nanny stateism.

Should we regulate chocolate ice-cream? Bad for cholesterol, diabetes, heart conditions, etc.

Besides, chocolate ice cream can become quite addictive. I'm still struggling to stay away from chocolate ice cream, can the government prevent children from becoming addicted to chocolate ice cream?

Imagine, what a healthy nation this would be... no ice cream but clean arteries. [/sarcasm]