"To begin, I protest earnestly the unapologetic infringement of the free market in sections 1 and 2. For what purpose are there for multiple tobacco companies if there are all regulated into virtual sameness? The basically total prohibition of advertisement, even through mediums like the Internet, compounded with the entire restriction of product, is completely outrageous and characteristic of an authoritarian regime. I cannot believe this bill's intention is to protect citizen health when it makes no mention of the product: size, contents, nothing. It is the suppression the free market that I find offensive. It is in more-alignment with the author's apparent intention to propose to nationalize the tobacco industry.
Also in section 2, I fail to see the purpose of requiring business owners to "hide" their tobacco products. Honestly, is it supposed to be a hide and seek game? Only customers that can find what tobacco products the government hasn't banned or regulated into nonexistence get to buy the product? It's, again, outrageous.
I haven't even gotten to my biggest criticism. The prohibition of the commercial sale of e-cigarettes. This, frankly, comes out of nowhere. While the rest of the bill included clauses I found disagreeable, this is particularly outrageous. E-Cigarettes are better for people than tobacco cigarettes and certainly tobacco cigars. Again, the intent of this bill is clearly not to improve citizen health.
I cannot stand here and claim to represent my constituents best interests while voting for this bill. Thus, I am in complete opposition to the bill in its entirety. I would welcome a lighter regulation on tobacco companies."
