Posted by Jay on January 19, 2004, 8:51 pm Dear Valued Customer, this is an important notice. On Wednesday, January 21, 2004, the House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to mark-up HR 2824, the Internet Tobacco Sales Enforcement Act. This bill would require interstate tobacco retailers to comply with multiple and discriminatory state excise, sales and use taxes for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products sold directly to adult consumers over the Internet or through the mail. No other legal product sold over the Internet would be subject to the same regulations. HR 2824 will reduce customer choice, and increase the cost of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, to the benefit of large tobacco companies and powerful convenience store lobbying interests. The bill would allow states to blacklist companies for selling tobacco products in interstate commerce. In addition, the bill will impose harsh criminal and civil penalties on online retailers, as well as carriers (such as UPS, Federal Express and Airborne Express). If passed, HR 2824 will drive responsible Internet tobacco retailers out of business, giving large tobacco companies a monopoly and leaving the door open to organized crime, contraband smugglers and other undesirable groups. Please call, write, fax or e-mail your Congressional representative, and urge him/her to oppose the burdensome regulations in HR 2824! In 2001, a concerned group of Internet tobacco retailers founded OLTRA to bring a standard of service through self-regulation to the Internet tobacco industry, and address concerns about the sale of tobacco products to minors. Over the past three years, OLTRA has worked to implement a number of policies designed to prevent the sale of tobacco products to minors through online retailers. OLTRA is committed to these measures, and to legal age verification. OLTRA members support the Commerce Clause, and direct shipping to adults. Consumers should have the choice of selecting the means by which they purchase tobacco products, whether from Internet retailers or brick and mortar stores. Our customers have a direct interest in helping to protect our industry and we must have your support. It is time to tell your Federal and state legislators to stop dictating how and where you can buy tobacco products. Tell them you want to make your own choice. 2004 is an election year and this is the time to make your vote count. Take a few minutes to get involved, and tell the politicians and the anti-smoking groups they have gone too farÂ… We need your help. Support OLTRA, together, we can make a difference.
68.79.40.X
I got this email today from an online tobacco shop in regards to something that would effect ALL online tobacco shops.
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