Adrian Smith: “I include in the Record these additional letters in opposition to H.R. 2339. 6 Reasons To Oppose HR 2339 (Pallone) Total…”

“I include in the Record these additional letters in opposition to H.R. 2339. 6 Reasons To Oppose HR 2339 (Pallone) Total Flavored Tobacco Product Prohibition 1. This bill bans all flavored tobacco products. That means menthol cigarettes (36% of market), flavored moist smokeless tobacco (60% of market), flavored cigars (26% of market), and most pipe tobacco. 2. The age for tobacco was just raised to 21 nationwide. Teen vapor trends need to be reversed. That's why Congress just raised the minimum age for all tobacco products to 21. Also, the FDA is now taking concrete steps to remove child- friendly vapor products from the market. We should give these policies time to work. 3. Adults 21 + can choose flavors in alcohol and cannabis (where legal), and they should be able to choose flavors in tobacco. Adults 21 and older buy alcohol (and cannabis where it's legal). They are taxpayers, voters, and can serve in the military. Taking this decision away from adults 21 and over won't stop the behavior--it will just move it into the illegal market. We should respect adults and let them make these decisions. 4. Prohibition doesn't work. It never has. This bill would criminalize the sale and distribution of these products for adults. That's Prohibition. In the 1920s, Alcohol Prohibition created an illegal market, increased crime, burdened law enforcement, and endangered the public. 5. Youth use of traditional products is DOWN. Underage vapor rates are too high.…”