Friday, May 14, 2004

Tobacco Control Act

I've been told that, in Ohio, breaking the law which prohibits the sale of tobacco to minors can result in a $500 fine. To my knowledge, the severity of the penalty has produced little complaint. For the sake of comparison, imagine the outrage if Ohio tobacco law was similar to the Tobacco Control Act imposed upon the native citizens in Northern Canada. According to a report in the Nunatsiaq News, the penalty for selling tobacco to anyone under the age of 19 is $150,000. And, if someone breaks up a pack of smokes and sells them individually, the penalty is $300,000.

Frankly, I just can't imagine that many eskimo shop owners would have the ability to pay that fine in a lifetime, even if it is Canadian dollars.

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