Have you ever smoked "contraband" ( Indian reservation made) cigarettes?

Canada
October 18, 2009 9:15am CST
First of all...let me just say that I had a difficult time thinking of the perfect subject line for this discussion. The other day, I read an article found in one of the local newspapers here, regarding a study that was done, on how many high school students were found smoking contraband cigarettes in front of their school-yards. Apparently, police officers were sent around to different high schools in the neighborhood, to pick up as many contraband cigarette butts from the sidewalk, as they could find. Now, far be it from me to tell an 18 year old what they can and can't do as far as smoking goes, these kids ARE certainly smart enough to know the "ins & outs", and/or the dangers of the habit...and to me, it's THEIR choice as to whether or not they want to smoke in the first place. I'm not here to lecture on health issues at this time, nor am I concerned here as to how or where tobacco products are purchased, be they "legal" or not. My concern here, is actually focused on the article itself. Bare with me and I'll try to explain. As we all are aware of by now, our nation's First Peoples have certainly had a number of things to adjust to, since the arrival of settlers to the New World. Lets face it, they were treated unfairly, and finally given "plots" of land to live on, called reservations. Here, they could live their lives as they had always done, without the intervention of "outsiders". So be it. Skip to present day...not too much has changed in that regard. However, the ONE thing they CAN produce on THEIR land (besides the occasional casino) is TOBACCO. One of their most SACRED possessions, to boot. Ok. Now in the article, it was stated that the tobacco products, namely cigarettes that they ARE allowed to manufacture on the reservation, has now come under "attack". It mentioned that this "contraband" product, was found to contain traces of insect eggs, mold, and get this...human fe*es! One of the reasons this product is labeled contraband, is because it is made on reservations to begin with, in that the "government" cannot regulate the factories from whence they come. Nor, can they collect the tax money from a single package, due to the fact that First Nations peoples are self-governing. Here's my questions: 1. When will "Big Brother" finally allow people to make their OWN choice, as to whether or not they want to smoke, AND from WHERE they purchase them? 2. Where would they grab all of that HUGE tax money from, if they manage to get all of us smokers to quit? 3. When are they going to give up trying to use "scare tactics", in order to FORCE people to STOP making their own choices. And finally....the MOST important of all: 4. Don't they think that First Nations people have enough SENSE to regulate their own products, in that they WOULD NOT even entertain the notion of putting such as the above, into their tobacco? Does government actually BELIEVE they would do this kind of harm to THEMSELVES? Do the think these people are that stupid? When is government going to finally give them the respect they deserve? Don't believe EVERYTHING that you read folks! cdrxo
2 responses
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
18 Oct 09
we live fairly close to a reservation and my neighbour gets her smokes there and swears by it. its much cheaper because they are not paying government taxes on them. i heard on the radio the other day that teens are buying these smokes too because they are only a dollar a pack compaired to $8- that the store charges due to government taxes.
1 person likes this
@crazydaisy (3896)
• Canada
18 Oct 09
Even though I don't smoke I feel that they should leave the Indians alone and let them smoke what they ever they want it's up to them.Plus they are very clean as well you're right about big brother he should mind his own business and leve them alone.Plus kids of 18 will smoke even if they want to even or not you can't tell them not to they got a mind of their own, cd
1 person likes this