Van Dough: Why cigarette smugglers love New York.

Reason Online ^ | 7/5/02 | Jacob Sullum

[suijuris]

A few months ago the FBI announced the arrest of 17 people accused of smuggling cigarettes from North Carolina to raise money for the terrorist group Hezbollah.

So who is supporting the terrorist in this case? The smokers, or the Government that created the environment for the black market?

[Fred Mertz]

I believe Bonaparte rolls his own and might have some good advice.

I'm getting by at the local smoke shop by paying $9.53 a carton, taxes included.

But this smuggling idea sure has caught my attention since I'll be visiting NY in September.

[Bonaparte]

Right here

[Maelstrom]

It's the outlawing bit and what happens next that made me think of you, dearie.

[NEW YORKCITYGOPMAN]

And ole Bloomberg! heh! He smoked pot and LIKED it. He's a dumb a$$.

That's some message for the citizens of New York: cigarettes are bad (though only in excess will there be health problems for the individual) but POT (which CAN cause immediate health problems is okay! We all know about the dangers of cigarettes; but somehow to many, apparently including this Mayor, we are not sure about mariujana. Well it's pretty obvious that many people who speak out against cigarettes do NOT necessarily feel that way about POT. One theory on why this is so: cigarettes are Joe Sixpack; marijuana is Abby Hoffman and Jerry Garcia.

Thanks for posting that NORML/Bloomberg bus sign; it is now my wallpaper du jour, She Lion. :)

[SheLion]

I hate Bloomberg so much, I even put up a page about him smoking pot:

Bloomberg.html

Ck it out!

[steve50]

Lost my links to the machine SheLion, think I'm going with the Platinum Excel, some like it better than the metal version. Can you find me a link to a site with the new Excel, not the old red one? Thanks in advance :-)

[NEW YORKCITYGOPMAN]

I'm a CAVEMAN, She Lion. I am a GOP leader from Manhattan and I really was neutral in the GOP primary, though my heart was with BADILLO. But under pressure from my County organization, I finally CAVED in and endorsed Bloomberg.

Wasn't all that thrilled with Rudy at times, like when he use to pander to gays by marching in the parade. But there were good things about RG; can't see them so far in this guy!

[newcats]

Tell me more about these "cartons from Columbia"...

All I know is that the box says "product of Columbia," and they have a "Columbian" blend of tobaccos. They taste much better than the other generic or cheap brands.
No, I do not know if this is some sort of smuggling thing. :)