Philip Morris USA might roll out Marlboro SNUS nationally three to six months after the start of the test market in Dallas, TX starting in August...

July 6, 2007 - Philip Morris USA might roll out Marlboro SNUS nationally three to six months after the start of the test market in Dallas, TX starting in August. Bonnie Herzog, a tobacco industry analyst for Citigroup, wrote in a research report this week. "Given that PM USA has already test marketed a similar product Taboka, for quite some time, we anticipate a rapid rollout of Marlboro SNUS." (Richmond Times-Dispatch via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)But in a survey of retailors (May 23, 2007 report)in the Taboka test market of Indianapolis by analyst Christopher Growe of A.G. Edwards & Sons, found the test was going poorly and that retailers said sales were "soft with little need to restock inventory." Growe indicated that PM will need a different entry vehicle to be successful." Enter Marlboro Snus. (TobaccoWatch.org)

Survey looks at new tobacco products, predicts hit for PM USA's Marlboro Snus...

July 5, 2007 - Survey looks at new tobacco products, predicts hit for PM USA's Marlboro Snus NEW YORK -- PM USA’s Marlboro Snus will be a hit, according to Citigroup tobacco analyst Bonnie Herzog in her most recent research report, which details the results of the firm’s proprietary tobacco trade survey of wholesalers and retailers. The majority of the firm’s industry trade contacts said they believe PM USA was very smart to leverage its Marlboro brand for its new smokeless product and made the right decision by entering the smokeless category via a snus product. Almost all (97%) of the survey respondents indicated they will carry Marlboro Snus when it is available to them. Herzog expects Marlboro SNUS to be far more successful than Camel SNUS. Also it is believed that UST (US Smokeless Tobacco) could suffer the most from the national roll-out of Marlboro SNUS. (CSP (Convenience Store / Petroleum) Daily News)

Our children are in danger of becoming nicotine addicts...

July 4, 2007 - Our children are in danger of becoming nicotine addicts..
from the SNUS.biz web site: Camel Snus tag will be - “pleasure for wherever whenever.” Mitch Zeller, a health policy consultant who was director of the Office of Tobacco Programs at the FDA during the Clinton Administration, said the web site for Camel Snus "seems aimed at young adult males to get them to start using products." The site says Reynolds found Snus in Sweden, "home of the world's best meatballs, massage and blondes." Comments from public heath personnel in Portland, OR - one of the original test markets sites. Kylie Meiner, the tobacco prevention coordinator for Multnomah County where one of the two test sites for Camel Snus is located is convinced that the marketing is aimed at young people. One direct mail item she received read “Camel Snus – be the 1st on your block to try it” (Portland Tribune, 11/20/2006). Cathryn Cushing, a specialist with the Oregon's Tobacco Prevention and Education Program, "I see it as a young adult marketing strategy, and we have a lot of hip young adults in this city," Cushing said. And "if it appeals to a 22-year-old, I think you can assume it will appeal to a 16-year-old. Because what do 16-year-olds want to be? Twenty-two" (The Oregonian, 1/7/2007). Comment from Metroblogging User - Portland, OR: There are only two drawbacks. First, it doesn't take a genius to see what a boon snus would be to underage users. Heck, you could sit in class with some in your mouth, and no one would be the wiser. At least when I was in high school, you had the telltale clumps of 'chaw' in the water fountains to betray the tobacco user, or at least the worn white rings in the back pocket of your jeans. You could probably hide this stuff from teachers and parents pretty easily. Second, although smokeless tobacco saves you from some of the risk of heart disease and lung cancer, plenty of smokeless tobacco users out there have developed cancer of the mouth or throat, and have had large chunks of their jaws and tongues removed as a result. But that's a hard image to sell to sixteen-year-olds, who are pretty sure that they're immortal ("You Snus, You Lose" posted by PAgent at 1:50pm on January 8, 2007). (TobaccoWatch.org)

C-stores in Columbus, OH, Indianapolis, IN, Kansas City, MO, Orlando, FL, and Raleigh, NC (and to the east of Greensboro, NC) should expect the arriva

July 2, 2007 - SNUS is coming.. C-stores in Columbus, OH, Indianapolis, IN, Kansas City, MO, Orlando, FL, and Raleigh, NC (and to the east of Greensboro, NC) should expect the arrival of Camel SNUS mini-refrigerators any day now. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco is ready to pay to have the frig center stage where all the patrons can see. Since June 2006 Camel SNUS has been test marketed in Austin, TX and Portland, OR.Click on image to enlarge.. See also June 8, 2007 Newsbrief.. (TobaccoWatch.org)

July 1, 2007 - as of 7/1/2007 Smokers in five states will take a hit to their wallets as the tax increases: Alaska - another 20 cents, up to $2.25 per pack for those that were not part of the 1998 Tobacco Settlement Agreement, slightly less for the others; Connecticut - increased by 49 cents to $2.00 per pack; Indiana - increased by 44 cents to 99.5 cents per pack; New Hampshire - increased by 28 cents to $1.08 per pack - still below the other New England states; and Tennessee - increased by 42 cents to 62 cents per pack (still well below the national average of 80 cents per pack). Congratulations (The News & Observer) 

The Dummies - Pennsylvania already taxes cigarettes, but is the only state in the union that doesn't tax other tobacco products, such as pipe and rolling tobacco, chew and cigars. Why!!! Meanwhile 800,000 PA adults lack health insurance. (tobaccowatch.org)