Tobacco industry's focus on contraband is a smokescreen

The article by Michel Gadbois of the Canadian Convenience Stores Association ("Higher cigarette taxes won't help," Opinion, July 22) is part of a tobacco-industry strategy to divert government efforts so that they focus solely on the illegal tobacco market instead of addressing the total tobacco epidemic.

The effectiveness of tobacco taxes in lowering tobacco consumption has long been recognized by all the leading public-health authorities. The tobacco industry itself wrote in 1987 that "rising taxes are the main contributor to volume declines." In fact, the policy is so effective in curbing sales that the tobacco industry, to counter high prices, engaged in contraband in the 1990s, a crime for which it has recently pleaded guilty.

Now the source of the contraband problem has shifted to a few First Nations reserves, and the tobacco industry, which is not benefiting this time from the illegal sales, and its allies, such as the Canadian Convenience Stores Association, are professing that there is a "growing illegal black market" and that governments are failing to appropriately address the issue.

It is important to point out that the tobacco industry has only itself to blame for the current contraband crisis, because it planted the seed of greed and the knowhow among traffickers by supplying them in the past with tobacco products. In addition, it is always a valuable exercise to take a look at what the industry is saying internally to have another perspective on the situation.

Philip Morris International, the parent company of Rothmans, Benson & Hedges in Canada, wrote in its latest annual shareholders report (2010) that:

"In Canada, the total tax-paid cigarette market was up by 9.5 per cent, mainly reflecting stronger government enforcement measures to reduce contraband sales since mid-2009."

In a half-year report published in 2010, British American Tobacco, the parent company of Imperial Tobacco Canada, had this to say on the subject:

"Volume growth was achieved on the back of a significant reduction in illicit product as a result of the authorities' enforcement activities."

BAT also stated in a recent shareholders' presentation that the size of the illicit market in Canada had decreased from 32.7 per cent in 2008 to 18.7 per cent in 2010.

As for retailers, the 2010 November/December issue of Your Convenience Manager magazine reported that:

"Increased awareness, tightened border security and stiffer penalties are making it more difficult for smugglers to distribute tobacco in Canada. As a result, cigarette sales are up 10 per cent . The largest dollar volume growth came from Quebec and Ontario - two of the hardest-hit regions for contraband - where dollar volume sales improved 18 per cent and 13 per cent respectively."

Not surprisingly, these statements reflect what governments are currently reporting on the contraband market. For example, the latest Quebec government budget indicated that:

"The efforts to curb the illicit tobacco trade are producing excellent results. After five consecutive years of declining revenue from the specific tax on tobacco products, revenue has risen for the second year in a row . The Ministère des Finances estimates the tax losses associated with tobacco smuggling at $225 million for 2010, i.e. roughly 20 per cent of the market. The estimated losses for 2008 were $300 million, representing about 30 per cent of the market at that time."

The previously mentioned presentation from BAT provides the motive why the industry continues to cry wolf regarding the contraband problem, despite evidence to the contrary:

"Increased illicit trade awareness leads to less tax increases."

It is a common business practice for the tobacco industry to mislead governments. In this case, it is important to understand that the industry's focus on contraband is intended not only to influence tobacco-tax policy but also to forestall any new tobacco-control policies. We saw this last fall with the tobacco industry's failed attempt to derail the federal government's renewal of graphic warnings on tobacco packages on the pretence that the contraband problem had to be resolved first.

The record-breaking $1.7 billion in fines and settlements paid by the tobacco industry for its role in the 1990s smuggling crisis clearly had no deterrent effect on its misleading behaviour. Whatever the industry's public view on the matter, the facts show that governments are on the right track to curb the illicit market. There is no doubt for the health community that contraband tobacco still remains a significant public-health threat that needs to be resolved. However, the tobacco industry's continuing disregard for the truth is a further justification for governments to press on with controlling the legal market as well.

State seeking $8.1 million in tobacco case

The state of Mississippi hasn’t received millions of dollars in tobacco settlement money because one of the companies who entered into the 1998 tobacco settlement failed to report profits from the sale of 7.8 billion cigarettes made for Star Tobacco and Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the state argued Monday.

Brown and Williamson Holding, Inc., which later merged with R.J. Reynolds, manufactured and shipped the cigarettes to Star as part of a contract they’d entered into. However, special counsel Gary Wilson argued Monday, the cigarettes were sold for profit in the United States, though Brown and Williamson failed to report those sales as part of the profits that went into calculating the payments in the tobacco settlement.

Attorney General Jim Hood filed suit in 2010 alleging that the miscalculations “resulted in artificially low payments in Mississippi for 2001 and for every year thereafter in which Mississippi was entitled to a net operating profits adjustment.”
Star sold the cigarettes using such brand names as Gunsmoke and Vegas, research showed, between 1999 and 2002. The company that manufactured their cigarettes, Brown and Williamson, were a part of the master tobacco settlement agreement in 1997 that encompassed 46 states.
Mississippi, Wilson said, is due to be repaid the $3.6 million it was denied plus interest for the years it went unpaid, bringing the total amount to an estimated $8.1 million at the end of June.

On the Call: Lorillard CEO Murray Kessler

The Food and Drug Administration, which is currently reviewing the public health impact of menthol cigarettes, is conducting an independent review of research gathered by its advisory committee.

In June, the federal agency said members of its Center for Tobacco Products planned to submit its review to an external peer review panel in July and expected the process to be completed in the fall of 2011.
The review comes after the FDA in March received a report from the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee that removing menthol cigarettes from the market would benefit public health because the minty flavoring tobacco has led more people to pick up smoking and makes quitting harder. However, the report said menthol smokers are not likely to be at a higher risk of disease or exposed to a greater number of toxins.

The panel also said the FDA should consider other factors, including whether a ban could increase the market for counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes.

Many analysts believe the agency won't ban menthol, which about 19 million Americans smoke. Menthol cigarettes are one of few growth areas in the shrinking cigarette market.A menthol ban or other restrictions on the flavored cigarettes would fall heavily on Greensboro, N.C.-based Lorillard Inc., whose Newport brand is the top-selling menthol cigarette in the U.S.

New marijuana ballot measure starts circulating

A new marijuana legalization ballot measure was cleared Monday to start seeking petition signatures.
But its proponents aren't affiliated with the Oakland-based backers of last year's Proposition 19, who intend to mount a 2012 initiative of their own.
The state attorney general's official summary says the measure, named by its proponents as "The Regulate Marijuana Like Wine Act of 2012," would decriminalize marijuana sales, distribution, possession, use, cultivation, processing and transportation by people at least 21 years old.
Advertising of marijuana, except for medicinal use, would be banned, but zoning restrictions would not apply to marijuana growing and processing. Existing agricultural taxes and regulations would apply to all except noncommercial production of up to 25 flowering plants or 12 processed pounds per year. Sales of marijuana with at least 1 percent THC -- the herb's most prominent psychoactive ingredient -- would be allowed only to people 21 and up.
The measure also would direct state and local officials not to cooperate with enforcement of the federal ban on marijuana.
Proponents James Gray, William McPike and Steve Kubby have until Dec. 19 to collect valid signatures from at least 504,760 registered voters in order to qualify it for the ballot.
Gray, a former Orange County Superior Court judge and the 2004 Libertarian nominee for U.S. Senate, is a longtime drug reform advocate from Newport Beach.

McPike is a Fresno attorney specializing in marijuana law. Kubby, of South Lake Tahoe, is a longtime marijuana advocate and the 1998 Libertarian gubernatorial nominee.
They aren't with the Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform, which grew out of last year's Prop. 19 legalization effort. Although 53.5 percent of voters rejected Prop. 19 in November, the measure did have support from 4.6 million voters and so the coalition intends to try again in 2012.

Innovation, pricing key to tobacco growth

Euromonitor International says innovating, raising prices and introducing smokeless products remain key growth strategies for tobacco companies as smokers worldwide face tax hikes, smoking bans, health concerns and social stigma.
The research firm says it expects nearly 7 percent more cigarettes to be sold annually by 2015, with increases in emerging markets. But it expects declines in places with greater tobacco control measures like the U.S. and Europe.

Prices are projected to rise 25 percent in that period.
Companies are looking to smokeless products and those with possible reduced health risks for growth. Revenue from smokeless products rose 11 percent in 2010 but remains small compared with cigarette revenue.
Euromonitor says rising prices will encourage illicit trade, which grew to about 10 percent of the cigarettes consumed in 2010.

Feds seize illegally imported cigarettes from Vietnam

Federal agents in Seattle seized 6,500 cartons of cigarettes and more than $200,000 in cash Wednesday as part of a sweeping investigation into the illegal import of Marlboro Reds, 555s and other Philip Morris brands from Vietnam.

Mark Leiser, the assistant special agent in charge of the Seattle field office of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), said agents executed 14 search warrants at three businesses and 11 residences, where they seized the cash and cigarettes.

He said agents also seized five vehicles that were either purchased with illegal proceeds or were used to transport the cigarettes, which were shipped to the Seattle area through the U.S. mail.

Those involved in the scheme avoided paying taxes on the cigarettes, defrauding the federal and state governments of an estimated $24 million since 2008, Leiser said. He estimated that the 6,500 cartons seized on Wednesday alone represented $262,000 in lost tax revenue.

Leiser and Brad Kleinknecht, the inspector in charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, gave only vague details of their joint operation at a news conference Wednesday at the Jackson Federal Building in downtown Seattle because the affidavits outlining their investigation have been sealed in U.S. District Court.

No one was taken into custody Wednesday, but arrests are expected once the U.S. Attorney's Office reviews the case and makes charging decisions, Leiser said.

The warrants were served in Seattle, Kenmore, Shoreline, Kent and Tacoma, ATF spokeswoman Cheryl Bishop said.

"It was common knowledge in the areas where they were sold," she said.

In Vietnam, a carton of Marlboros costs $7 to $9 in U.S. dollars. In Washington — which has one of the highest tax rates on cigarettes in the nation at a little over $3 a pack — that same carton costs $79 to $85, according to Postal Inspector Jerry Styers.

In spring 2010, officials with the state Liquor Control Board contacted the ATF with information about street-level sales of cartons and packs of cigarettes from Vietnam that lacked tax stamps, Leiser said. Investigators determined that cigarettes were being sent through the mail to Seattle-area residents, who then sold cartons for $20 to $30 less than what a smoker would pay at legitimate retail businesses, he said.

The state tax on a carton of cigarettes is $30.25, plus $10.07 in federal tax, Leiser said. In Washington, the money is used to subsidize public education and the health-care system and help fund public-works projects, he said.

"For those who say these kinds of investigations are a waste of money or that it's a victimless crime, I would say they're wrong," Leiser said.

Electronic Cigarettes Now Under New Ownership

We have some very exciting news that will save your life and save you money at the same time. The website that has been providing the best in the E-Cigarette industry has just made a change in ownership. SmokePower.com has come under new ownership and to honor the event we are offering 15% off on any purchase until August 31, 2011.
For those of you who are unaware, the Electronic cigarette or E-Cigarette has gained popularity in the past few years as an alternative to smoking. Rather than inhaling the toxic smoke of a normal cigarette, the “smoker” now inhales a mist of water and nicotine. The process is much the same as smoking a normal cigarette, the Ecigarette is drawn on just the same, but without all the nasty side effects. When exhaling there is no smoke, only water vapor, making this a cleaner and safer alternative to those around the smoker as well.

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SmokePower.com has always been one of the leaders in the E-Cigarette revolution and that is not going to change. The same outstanding customer service and prices on the internet are still present with the new owners, plus there is now a 15% off promotion until August 31, 2011 that will save you even more.
As many states increase the number of laws governing smoking in public, an obvious change is in the works. The E-Cigarette can be used anywhere, inside or out because no actual smoke is produced. Not to mention the side effects, the medical reasons and the obvious reasons for making a change, SmokePower.com is now making it even cost less to make the change. One E-Cigarette refill lasts for about 300 inhalations; this is just over the equivalent of a single pack of regular cigarettes.
If you have been putting off trying one, or you have just been unaware of the E-Cigarette, this is the perfect time to take the plunge. How long have you thought in the back of your mind about stopping and never done it, or how many times have you tried and failed? This is the time to make a change and the change will save your life and save you money. The great thing about an E-Cigarette is that you are not actually “quitting”, you are just replacing your normal cigarettes with something better. Most people do quit after a point, but this not necessary.

Cigarette dealers evade VAT

Distributors of cigarettes are digging a deep hole into the state exchequer by way of evasion of taxes. Stung by the recent findings of the vigilance and enforcement (V&E) wing, the state government has asked the commercial taxes department to tighten the noose on the wholesale distributors across the state.

As per preliminary investigations, the wholesale dealers have been evading payment of value addition tax (VAT) to the tune of nearly Rs 300 crore annually. Sources said the V&E department came across this development after carrying out surprise checks on the distributors in several districts last month following complaints about fudging of records.

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While the manufacturers were paying tax at their end after selling the stocks to the distributors, the latter were not paying the taxes despite making huge sums after selling the stocks to the retailers. The distributors have another tier of dealers before the stocks reach the retailer in the guise of salesmen and were not showing these sales figures in the original transaction records.

Japan eyes tobacco tax hike for reconstruction

Japan is considering a hike in its tobacco tax to help fund reconstruction costs, the Yomiuri newspaper said on Thursday, which could be first in a variety of tax increases as the country rebuilds from natural disaster and tries to repair weak public finances.

The hike, which the government hopes to implement as early as the next fiscal year starting April 2012, could bring in as much as 200 billion yen ($2.5 billion) annually, the newspaper said without citing sources.

The Democratic Party-led government agreed last month to double the 5 percent sales tax by mid-decade to pay for social security costs, which are rising by about one trillion yen a year due to an aging society.

Japan's outstanding debts are about twice the size of its $5 trillion economy, and credit ratings agencies say tax hikes are needed to avoid a sovereign downgrade.

An advisory panel called last month for a temporary hike to either the sales tax, the corporate tax or income taxes to rebuild the northeast coast, which was devastated by a large earthquake and tsunami on March 11.

But embattled Prime Minister Naoto Kan faces a divided parliament where opposition parties can block legislation and it is not clear whether such hikes can be implemented.

The government is leaning toward increasing taxes on cigarettes as that's likely to draw less objection from the public, the Yomiuri said.

A tobacco tax hike would however be a blow to Japan Tobacco (2914.T) which controls close to two-thirds of the domestic cigarette market. ($1 = 80.930 Japanese Yen)

Conspiracy: Smoke and mirrors

You know cigarettes are uncool and can send you on the path to a slow, lingering death… but did you also know that some cigarettes are linked to plots to eradicate certain ethnic groups? That’s what conspiracy theorists would have you believe – and here are some standout theories that have kept amateur sleuths busy for years.
Not your average joe
Few marketing mascots have been as universally reviled as the now-deceased ‘smooth character’ Joe Camel. Castigated for hawking cigarettes to young people, this cartoonish icon found itself in the firing line after the American medical association reported in 1991 that more children 5 and 6 years old could recognise Joe Camel than could recognise Mickey Mouse or Fred Flintstone, Joe kept puffing along till 1997, when he was finally laid to rest. But there may even be more than meets the eye here — and some people (perhaps with way too much time on their hands) say that Joe’s face is in fact supposed to represent the male genitalia, which will … somehow … um … make people smoke more cigarettes? No seriously, this is not made up.
Camel kay andar kya hay?
But that’s just one of the ‘hidden secrets’ of Camel cigarettes. Another is the mysterious ‘man/woman in the Camel leg.’ According to urban legend, the front leg of the Camel on the packet in fact contains a woman standing with her hands on her hips (highlighted and labeled for your convenience). That’s what some people think. Others see a man, the Belgian ‘peeing boy’ and even Mae West! That’s not all … people who seemingly enjoy staring at a pack of smokes also see a leaping lion, a skull and a little dog. Again with the supposed goal of getting people to light up.
The Klan konnection
The Ku Klux Klan – they wear white hoods, burn crosses, lynch African Americans and are inordinately fond of alliteration. But did you know they also sell cigarettes? That’s what some incorrigible conspiracy theorists would have us believe. Some people say that Marlboro cigarettes are supported by the KKK — or the other way around. They justify these claims by drawing people’s attention to the packaging of Marlboro cigarettes. Apparently if you tip a Marlboro cigarette box onto its side, the logo forms a triple K symbol … see it?
Menthol cigarette conspiracy
It has long been rumoured that menthol cigarettes cause impotence. A lesser known conspiracy theory, however, suggests that menthol cigarettes were marketed specifically to African American men in the 1960s and 1970s, in order to hamper their ability to procreate. While it is true that brands like Kool cigarettes did use African Americans in their advertisements quite frequently, this hypothesis is as shaky as the idea that menthols cause impotence in the first place.

Big Tobacco targets minority youth

According to a recent Stanford University Medical School study, described in Science Daily, the big tobacco companies are trying to lure minority youth into smoking menthol cigarettes. Even thought these companies know many of the these young people will eventually die from smoking their product, and they claim not to be targeting young people, the evidence uncovered by the Stanford report makes it clear these companies are out to make a profit by selling as much death and disease as they can to minority youth.

The Food and Drug Administration is on the verge of banning menthol in cigarettes. The report's lead researcher, Lisa Henriksen, PhD, says, "The tobacco companies went out of their way to argue to the Food and Drug Administration that they don't use racial targeting. This evidence is not consistent with those claims."

Menthol is used to makes cigarettes less harsh and is said in company ads to bring about a feeling of "freshness." The major users of these kinds of cigarettes are teenagers, minorities and the poor ("low-income populations"). The FDA tasked the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee to study the health hazards of menthol cigarettes, and the committee concluded, "Removal of menthol cigarettes from the marketplace would benefit public health in the United States."

This is not very startling, since removing all cigarettes would benefit public health. Naturally, we didn't need a special committee to know that banning menthol cigarettes would be beneficial. The recommendation is non-binding anyway. The committee is going to meet again in the middle of July to write up a final report. Let's hope it is more specific than the quote in Science Daily.

The FDA should ban menthol cigarettes just to stop the industry's predation against middle and high school students. The committee, which has the Stanford report, should really come down hard on the industry. It was charged. Dr, Henriksen said, "with considering a broad definition of harm to smokers and other populations, particularly youth. We think our study, which shows the predatory marketing in school neighborhoods with higher concentrations of youth and African-American students, fits a broad definition of harm."

The report reveals an increase in cigarette use by youth between 2004 and 2008, and that of people ages 12-17, 71.9 percent of African American youth prefer menthol brands (the figures for whites was 41 percent and Hispanics 47 percent). Comparing the actions of Newport (menthols made by Lorillard) with Marlboro Reds, the report shows that Newport offers special price reductions around schools that have a large African-American enrollment. Other brands were also studied.

The study found that ads for menthol cigarettes increased by almost 6 percent near schools for every increase in the proportion of African-American students of 10 percent, and Newport cut the price of a pack by 12 cents for each of those 10 percent increases.

In the surrounding neighborhoods, Newport seemingly checked out the proportion of youth ages 10-17 (!). For each 10 percent increase in their proportion, they increased ads by 11.6 percent, and the odds were 5.3 percent higher that Newports would sell at discounted prices. Marlboro Reds had no ads or price changes related to the presence of youth or African-American students.

We now know that despite the industry claims African-American teens are being especially targeted. Stephen Fortmann, MD, who also participated the study, said, "When kids are exposed to more cigarette advertising, they are more likely to start smoking, which will undoubtedly lead to dire health consequences. Our study finds that tobacco companies are trying to make smoking more attractive to teens, when we as a society should be doing just the opposite. Adding menthol to cigarettes makes it easier to smoke and harder to quit, so the public health community strongly supports an FDA ban on menthol flavoring."

My prediction: The FDA will vote for the ban, and the Supreme Court will overturn it as a violation of free speech. Libertarians and tea party folks will be against the ban as an infringement of personal liberty.

What 10 year old doesn't want a Newport to suck on while playing a slice 'em and dice 'em video game?

Stricter regulations vs smoking pushed

A Quezon City councilor said Monday there is a need for concerned authorities to enforce stricter no-smoking regulations in public places with the rising number of lung cancer cases and other ailments attributed to excessive smoking.

Councilor Allan Benedict Reyes of the city’s third district said non-smokers are also affected, especially those staying in enclosed places for long hours due to second-hand smoke inhalation.

The public, especially non-smokers, are advised to be wary of third-hand smoke where the stench of cigarettes are left behind in clothing materials, curtains, pillow cases and the like.

I am particularly concerned with the increasing number of women and teenage smokers. Although I recognize their rights even though how unhealthful it may be to relieve their stress through cigarette smoking these must be done so as not to affect non-smokers especially children and women,’’ Reyes added.

Reyes said there is a need for stronger enforcement of the no-smoking law in public places like air-conditioned rooms as clients are allowed to smoke freely in establishments like nightclubs, restaurants, videoke bars and nightspots.

Smoking targeted in public housing

Jim Lamb is leading a campaign in his Phoenix apartment complex to get non-smoking residents to identify themselves by posting a sign outside their door.

Lamb wants to show apartment staff and other residents how many people in the building support smoke-free living. There is a designated smoking area at Sunnyslope Manor, a federally funded senior home, but Lamb wants the property to go entirely smoke-free.

"It makes sense for everybody," said Lamb, 73. "We're not saying they can't smoke. It's just where they can smoke."
More residents in public housing have been speaking out in recent months on their concerns about secondhand smoke, according to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.

Since 2009, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recommended its multifamily and public-housing properties implement smoke-free policies. Since then, several of the Valley's federally funded housing complexes have gone completely or partially smoke-free.

Non-smoking residents in HUD properties who have caught wind of the new policies have been contacting the county Department of Public Health to see what could be done about their apartment complexes, said Sue Bergquist, smoke-free multihousing liaison at the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.

The growing demand from residents has compelled the department to assess how many Valley properties have gone smoke-free so that residents who want to move can at least have a list of properties to choose from. Bergquist also works with properties that are considering a smoking ban and educates residents about secondhand smoking and the impact one resident's smoking could have on another.

"What I try to talk about when I go to properties is, this isn't about taking your right away to smoke. All we're doing is asking you to smoke in a place where it won't harm your neighbor," Bergquist said.

Properties looking to go smoke-free must follow certain HUD guidelines. They can designate smoking areas or go totally smoke-free. They can't deny rentals to anyone just because they smoke and can't require existing tenants who smoke to move out or transfer to another unit.

Robert Howarth, 61, likes living in Pine Towers, a senior home in Phoenix. But he said he is worried about secondhand smoke and the possibility of fire. He wants to see the property ban all smoking.

"You can't even sit on the bench (outside) without someone sitting down next to you and blowing smoke in your face," Howarth said. "I don't see why we can't adopt a (smoke-free) policy here."

Staff at properties that have gone smoke-free said the change has proven to be a smart business decision.

It saves properties several thousand dollars a year in fees to clean units before turning them over to a new resident, they said. It also decreases the fire risk, especially in senior homes where residents might fall asleep or have a medical attack without extinguishing their cigarettes.

The reaction has been mixed, however, among residents at properties that have adopted smoke-free policies. Some moved out. Others finally kicked the habit.

Waymark Gardens, a senior home in Glendale, went partially smoke-free in June. The designated smoking area is in the center of the complex. Residents were given one year's notice that the property will go smoke-free.

Lisa Sunderlin, the property's administrator, said it costs up to $5,000 to renovate an apartment so that there is no trace of smoke left. Sometimes, the walls are yellowed and need to be stripped and repainted.

The outdoor smoking area has become a social gathering place of sorts. But smoking in the heat is not ideal for the elderly, some residents said.

While residents say no ban will stop a longtime smoker from lighting a cigarette, it is a hassle to trek out to the designated smoking area.

"When I was in the house, I'd smoke all the time because all I had to do was get out my cigarettes," said Estella Burks, 73, a Waymark Gardens resident. "We've been doing it all these years, you know? It's kind of hard."

Likewise, Lamb's smoke-free campaign at Sunnyslope Manor has not been popular among smokers.

Recom declares all-out war vs smoking in public

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri has ordered members of the Reformed Department of Public Safety and Traffic Management (RDPSTM) and the barangay police to arrest individuals who will violate the “smoking ban” that is now strictly being enforced in the city since Friday.

With this directive, elements of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) can expect to have staunch partners in the RDPSTM and barangay police as they enforce the smoking ban in public places.

Recom at the same time coordinated with Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas president Councilor Ricojudge “RJ” Echiverri to teach members of the barangay police how to properly arrest violators.

Echiverri said that one will be given special treatment when it come to effecting arrests in accordance with the smoking ban since this will be one way to instill discipline among smokers in the city.

He warned the enforcers not to abuse their power or authority in observing the law. The mayor said violators who felt that they were mistreated in any way can report the incident to his office.

Since Friday, smokers caught huffing and puffing in public places were given warnings, with their names jotted down by enforcers from the local government. On their second offense, the smokers will be meted with a fine in accordance with the law.

The MMDA launched last June 1 an extensive information campaign on the smoking ban, saying that its implementation in Metro Manila would begin after a month’s time.

Caloocan City was among the first local government units (LGUs) to implement a smoking ban in public places.

Justice Department shoots down commercial marijuana cultivation

With marijuana sold openly at retail stores throughout California, some advocates, pot growers and even city officials believed authorized commercial cultivation could be next. But the Obama administration dashed that notion this week, making clear it will not allow such operations.

In a letter sent Wednesday to federal prosecutors, Deputy Atty. Gen. James M. Cole noted that some cities and states have considered plans for "multiple large-scale, privately-operated industrial marijuana cultivation centers" and wrote that the administration's hands-off policy on medical marijuana patients was "never intended to shield such activities from federal enforcement action and prosecution, even where those activities purport to comply with state law."