Tobacco now unmailable, even to deployed troops

Story by Lance Cpl. Jakob Schulz

The new Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act, which was signed by the president on March 31, made cigarettes and smokeless tobacco unmailable items after it went into effect Tuesday.

This act also affects Marines and dependents hoping to send tobacco products to military members on deployment overseas or on ship.

The PACT act, which limits how, how much and where tobacco can be shipped, is part of a larger regulation, the Tobacco Control Act, which President Barack Obama signed in 2009.

"I think the biggest problem Marines here in Yuma are going to face is when they want to get smokeless tobacco sent to them while on deployment," said David Ager, U.S. mail clerk on station. "I don't see many cigarettes, but I see a lot of dip being sent."

The Food and Drug Administration now has the power to control and regulate tobacco manufacture, sale, shipment and advertisement.

The new mailing policy limits tobacco shipments so that only individuals can ship tobacco to other individuals via express mail in the form of 10 ounce packages, and only 10 such shipments can be made every 30 days.

Those wanting to ship tobacco must be prepared to provide verbal confirmation that the package is intended for a person over the age of 18 and, when it arrives, the recipient must confirm their age and verbally confirm that it was sent by someone 18 or older.

While there is an express military mail service for service members, which allows for 10 shipments of 10 ounces or less per 30 days, no base in Afghanistan or ship at sea has the ability to receive such shipments.

"I don't understand why they are doing this," said Lance Cpl. Garrison Grant, Marine Attack Squadron 513 airframes mechanic. "Sure, people bring tobacco into country with them, but it's never enough. When we get those care packages with tobacco, they're a godsend."

In addition, new laws went into effect June 22, stating that tobacco companies have 30 days to change the labeling on cigarette packaging so they don't include the words light, mild or low-tar. Also, the warning label has to make up at least 30 percent of the packaging.

Furthermore, flavored cigarettes have been outlawed, in the hopes that it will stop children from smoking.

For more information, see, www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/2010/pb22287/pdf/pb22287.pdf.