By fixing it’s RYO tobacco tax rate, a state can prevent any revenue loss from smokers switching from regular cigarettes to RYO, while also making the RYO products much less attractive and accessible to youths.”

RYO is a centuries old industry in no need of a bailout, so this is what their “fix” actually means:

By manipulating and raising it’s reasonable and traditional RYO tax rates, a state can assure maximum gouging of it’s citezens through prejudicial taxes on affordable RYO “kit products”  to keep their smokers addicted to “regular cigarettes”  (the ones that were previously established in US courts as specifically engineered for high consumption) therefore making the RYO kit products unaffordable  (eventually unavailable to everyone) in the future and ensuring a reliable and continuing revenue stream.

In a nutshell, RYO was too affordable and not generating enough money for the government and these worthless special interest groups.   Keep in mind, the farmer sells a pound of cured cigarette tobacco for around $2, by the time the consumer is able to purchase the tobacco the price will now shoot up to around $45lb (was about $15.00 pre-S-CHIP)!  The lionshare of the remaining $43 is taxes and MSA, by lionshare we’re talking over $30!   Smoke em if you got em, after all….it’s for someone elses kids!

Check out their site, it’s full of great ideas!  I guess cigars have been broken all along, I see that they’ve already figured out how to “fix” them too.   Hopefully liquor bottles (by the shot glass I presume) will be next, and who knows, chips by the chip and sodas by the sip.   I’ve read of something so udderly ridiculous as to tax cows by the fart, maybe we’ll be next.   That would be simple with modern technology I imagine, just shove a microchip where the sun don’t shine and start counting the revenue!   Why not, it’s for the children.  Maybe the children should be allowed all the farts they can rip out till they’re 18, at least let em get that old before they go insane.  Can we do it?

Many RYO retailers are hoping to clear existing inventory before April 1 to avoid the Floor Tax which marks all current stock immediately taxable and due under the S-CHIP provisions.  Some experts believe the RYO industry’s future is questionable and do not foresee many current companies surviving this onslaught of record high tax legislation.   RYO consumers are up in smoke about this and looking for cheaper alternatives while breaking their piggy banks, trying to stock up before the March 30th deadline.  It’s ironic that one of the resources the less fortunate are using to cope with the economic downturn is evidently being put to rest.  Legitimate US businesses are being destroyed to help support the healthcare of children of fairly well-to-do families, some of whom earn over $80,000.00 annually and even those of illegal aliens.

When asked how this will affect smoking behaviors, some RYO consumers relayed that their seeds are already ordered and plan on growing their own tobaccos.  A new hobby might spring for some, but land, skill and time constraints will make this a select few.   While GYO, or Grow Your Own, the smallest and most intensive of the tobacco hobbies, might work for the luckiest and most proficient, few RYOers have the resources nor space available for growing to be a real alternative.

Big Tobacco might expect an increase in market share when frustrated hobbyists and those who can afford to,  turn back to commercially manufactured cigarettes.   While the RYO consumer experienced a record breaking increase in federal tax, commercial cigarettes, pipes, cigars, chew and even snuff tobacco users  experienced only a curiously modest increase.   Insiders claim the cigar lobby threw RYO under the bus but many enthusiasts blame Big Tobacco itself.  Whichever the case, those who cannot afford to pay double or more in retail costs; smokers on fixed income, unemployed, out of work, handicapped, retired and otherwise broke smokers might need to finally give the old habit the boot.   For many of these people however, the prohibitive costs of cessation aids will make quitting an arduous, long and uncomfortable process.

Chart illustrating the inequities of the new S-CHIP bill as it’s applied to various tobacco products. Some experts say the current revision of the S-CHIP bill will likely destroy the RYO industry in the US and leave the poorest class of tobacco users in the cold. Ironic that the bill heralded to fund children’s healthcare for Americans earning up to $83K per annum is being placed squarely on the shoulder’s of America’s poorest citizens.  As anyone can plainly see, these figures are a bit askew against RYO by about 2,000%!

SCHIP Tobacco Tax Rate Increases | RYO Revolution