The following was sent from Susumu Kudo and I am posting it now -WITH MY
COMMENTS- to remind CANCHID subscribers that after the 15th of August I
hope we can hold several week discussion on internet based Tobacco
Control strategies. My hope is that at the end we can produce a
useful document (reposted to an FTP/gopher site) for Tobacco Control
strategies around the globe. - Sam Lanfranco - CANCHID ListManager -
 
----------------------- reposting -----------------------------------
Date: Wed, 02 Aug 1995 08:41:23 +900
From: Susumu Kudo <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: IDRC: Tabacco Query from Japan
 
Dear Tim Stone and Sam Lanfranco
 
Thank you both for informing me of Asian Tabacco Conference.
I knew about the Conference and I will try to attend this time.  The
last Conference was in Saitama, Japan two years (?) ago.
 
I think even though most of the efforts to control and restrict tabacco
lay at the local (and national) level, it is critical to have
international cooperation with a global perspective.  Especially, the
movement in the United States is critical as the country is the major
exporter of this product and, especially in case of Japan, the news (and
the pressure) from the U. S. is taken more seriously.
 
I know Congressman Waxman, ASH and other groups and individuals on the
internet that are active on this issue.  Who or which organization do
you suggest to contact in the US ?
 
I read a story sometime ago that after Canadian government increased
cigarette tax, the number of cigarrette smuglled into Canada from the US
increased significantly.  How did you cope with this issue and who acted
for Canada and who did you negotiate with?
 
You may not answer my questions but I think we have a lot to learn from
Canadian experience.
 
Thank you.
 
Susumu
----------------------------\
POSTSCRIPT BY SAM LANFRANCO: \-----------------------------------------
 
THE TOBACCO TAX EPISODE IN CANADA WAS INSTRUCTIVE. CANADA RAISED THE TAX
ON TOBACCO SIGNIFICANTLY AND IN RESPONSE CIGARETTE SMUGGLING GREW BY
LEAPS AND BOUNDS. THE GOVERNMENT 'GAVE IN' AND ROLLED BACK THE TAX. THE
INTERESTING PARTS ARE (a) THE CIGARETTES WERE ORIGINALLY MANUFACTURED IN
CANADA SO THE OPTION OF CONTROLLING THE FLOW FROM THE SOURCE WAS THERE
BUT NEVER CONSIDERED, (b) THE ACTUAL SMUGGLING WAS DONE BY NATIVE GROUPS
WHOSE RESERVES STRADDLE THE USA/CANADIAN BORDER. AT THE END THE WHOLE
EPISODE GOT QUITE VIOLENT AS GROUPS FOUGHT OVER THE TRAFFIC. IT WOULD
APPEAR THAT THERE WAS ACTIVE INVOLVMENT BY FINANCIAL GROUPS OUTSIDE THE
NATIVE COMMUNITIES. AS A POSTSCRIPT TO THIS, THE NATIVE COMMUNITIES WERE
THE RECENT SITE OF MARIJANA FARMS WHICH WERE TORCHED BY NATIVE GROUPS AND
SECURITY FORCES IN THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC. THE TWO 'FORCES' WORKED IN
SEPERATE ACTIVITIES SINCE NEITHER TRUSTS THE OTHER. IT WOULD APPEAR HERE
TOO THAT NON-NATIVE FINANCING WAS INVOLVED IN THE CULTIVATION OF THE
PLANTS. AS FOR THE HIGHER/LOWER CIGARETTE TAXES THE TIME FRAME WAS TOO
SHORT AND THE CONSEQUENCES UNCLEAR AS TO THE EFFECTS OF THE BRIEF PRICE
INCREASE AND FOLLOW-UP PRICE FALL. ON THE UP SIDE IT IS CLEAR THAT THE
PRICE INCREASE DID REDUCE SMOKING AMOUNG THE YOUNG IN THE SHORT-RUN.
 
It would be useful if - starting next week - people could point to more
complete sources on the episode. - Sam Lanfranco CANCHID ListManager