New York City sues roll-your-own-smokes shops (NYC taxes - $5.85 a pack)

Washington Times ^ | 11/21/11 | David B. Caruso

[Libloather]

Legal product made legally. They can't stand that.

[RC one]

should read: NYC kills free enterprise and the spirit of entrepeneurship.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Nanny State PING!

[1010RD]

Liberalism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, is not being taxed and regulated.

[1010RD]

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau ruled Sept. 30 that roll-your-own tobacco shops are manufacturers, subject to the same licensing rules as other cigarette makers.

The Executive branch legislating again.

[Godebert]

A carton of premium smokes is about $15 in St. Martin (Dutch West Indies). Heinekens are 2 for $3 at the Get Wet Beach Bar.

[Greysard]

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau ruled Sept. 30 that roll-your-own tobacco shops are manufacturers

Of course. That's why Hertz, Budget and Enterprise are now taxicab companies, all their cars must be licensed by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission and carry medallions. After all, they do the same thing - rent machines that allow people to do something that the authorities might want to tax.

Oh, you mean it isn't so? Then perhaps someone is illegally inventing laws?

[BillyBonebrake]

I spent the last 2 summers building skateboard parks in NYC w/itinerant crews from other places. Nobody paid the $13/pack unless push came to shove. Everyone was rolling them, which bothered me because it slowed us down and became a point of contention with non-smokers.

[MarkL]

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau ruled Sept. 30 that roll-your-own tobacco shops are manufacturers, subject to the same licensing rules as other cigarette makers.

The Executive branch legislating again.

This is pretty scary... It could mean that these same appointed bureaucrats might determine that anyone who reloads their own ammunition also falls under the status of "manufacturer," effectively banning reloading.

Mark

[Graybeard58]

A carton of premium smokes is about $15 in St. Martin (Dutch West Indies).

Prices are going up, about 6 years ago they were $10 per carton.

[tflabo]

Have a ciggie roll in en-masse protest at Bloomers palace of tyranny. Also a drive across the Verrazano Bridge now is a $13.00 extortion ripoff. E’ff what the LIEberals have done to a once great city.

[Sky Slug]

It’s ridiculous if you’re a smoker in Manhattan, you’re paying something like $13-$18 a pack. I’m proudly not. Instead I decided (MY WORDS.. I knew the risks) to addict myself to smokeless tobacco when I was playing high school football in Atlanta. It’s about $9 per can of Skoal in NYC. Outside of NYC, in NYS its around $7-$8 per can (inclusive of taxes). I last lived in Northern Virginia, and my parents have since moved there. It’s less than $5 there. God Bless the Commonwealth!

[peggybac]

I quit smoking almost 2 years ago but if I were to pick up the habit again, I’d definitely purchase a rolling machine. It’s amazing how cheap they are and think of the savings.

[Gabz]

Everyone was rolling them, which bothered me because it slowed us down and became a point of contention with non-smokers.

They obviously didn't know what they were doing. My husband can knock out a full pack in less than 10 minutes. Even I can make at least half a pack in about that time, and I am no where near as proficient as he is.

[Gabz]

Not just the $$$ savings, there are no nasty chemical additives in the tobacco. That difference is just as amazing as the $$$ difference.

[ibytoohi]

Ecigs are better if you have to restart...cheaper, no additives, no carcinogens. Unfortunately the FDA is probably going to regulate them as nicotine delivery systems ala the patch etc. Then there is that tax thing. Next they'll be taxing food that makes us fat. Nah, they wouldn't do that, would they?

[avenir]

Remember when smoking was glamorous (and cheap)?

[1010RD]

Bingo.

[facedown]

It could mean that these same appointed bureaucrats might determine that anyone who reloads their own ammunition also falls under the status of "manufacturer," effectively banning reloading.

They already do in my town.

[Lancey Howard]

I remember an old hoppie in college telling me, “Roll the middle and the ends will take care of themselves.”
(shrug) I guess the same would apply to tobacco?