The upcoming decision regarding menthol and reduced nicotine in tobacco products must be causing quite the dilemma for the U.S. administration. On the one hand they know the risks of smoking but from a political standpoint Americans are highly motivated by the "freedom of choice" siren in day to day life. Also the powerful lobby which is Big tobacco is also likely coming into play. They obviously want people to keep smoking (duh!!!) as witnessed by the non implementation of the patent below from 1997.
For instance, in 1997
Philip Morris International was granted US Patent 5684241 to alter nicotine content in tobacco plants, which reduced nicotine content by 80%.
My feeling is that Biden will follow the Canadian model in order to allow Americans to "make their own personal choice" without government intervention, a political flash point issue. I also mentioned in an earlier post that a menthol ban would not go over well with non white voters who are by far the largest consumers of menthol products.
So, here's what Canada did.
Between 1982 and 1992, Canadian governments increased taxes on tobacco by 500 per cent. That contributed to a staggering 40 per cent drop in smoking. Governments renewed their tax increases again in 2001, to the point that federal and provincial excise taxes now make up close to two thirds of the cost of a cigarette.Article below https://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/opinion-carbon-emissions-smoking-1.5993185
So if the U.S. does increase taxes, TAAT, which already sells at a 40% discount to traditional tobacco, and is also being promoted as a cessation product. stands to be extremely well positioned to capture significant market share, and if hemp isn't taxed like tobacco, the potential is massive for TAAT.
Show me the patents!
SHOW ME THE MONEY!