Watching an episode of “COPS” (American ‘reality tv’ show where our real life police are followed and filmed as they go on patrol and some of the people/situations they encounter) somebody was stopped and their car searched and they had what looked very much like a snuff box (but theirs filled with illegal drugs) and a baggy of telltale green herb was pulled out of the car and of course in my nasal snuff-obsessed current status I naturally wondered anybody ever been pulled over by the police, had your car searched, had a snuffbox of nasal snuff or a bag of tobacco, etc and had this questioned and had to explain? Can’t say I’ve ever had (knock on wood) I did read somewhere (was it here even?) of smoebody being accused of ‘sniffing brown herion’ (but wasn’t an officer, was apparently a civilian observer) any interesting interactions with law authorities (or anyone else for that matter) as a result of your sniffing habit, or having it misunderstood? (note: lets try to not stray to the political talk in here too much, there’s at least one other really good thread for that) EDIT - to add a related question: I wonder what drug rehab places do with smokers, do they make people quit smoking along with everything else? I wonder what a drug rehab place would do if somebody brought in bullets or tins of snuff (“Intervention” TV show inspired question)

I was the one who was accused of snorting “brown heroin” by a stoner doofus in a bar. The guy obviously had no idea what real brown heroin looks like or how it is snorted. I would think that even your average beat cop would know that much. I’ve received a few odd looks from a few other strangers, but that is about it. I’m always happy to explain that it is tobacco, nasal snuff, etc. if someone asks, but very few people do. I believe there are a couple of police officers who post regularly at this forum, and I would be interested in what they have to say about this. They are probably the only two cops in North America who have ever heard of and use nasal snuff, but I certainly wouldn’t expect other cops to know what it is, much less react reasonably or nicely over it. I’ve wondered if any cop would go as far as hauling someone in over this “suspicious substance.” Yes, you could get the situation straightened out eventually, but who wants to go through that kind of hassle? I admit that I have had enough negative experiences with American cops to have a healthy distrust of them. As for drug rehab centers and smoking, I once visited a friend who spent some time in a rehab center. It seemed to me that virtually every patient there was smoking like a chimney. I’ve heard that smoking is/was quite prevalent at AA meetings as well. I don’t know what people at these things do these days, what with so many smoking bans in place. I suppose they congregate in smoke cloud clusters outdoors, just like you see outside every bar and club.

I’ve had: - One stoner that followed me to a public bathroom thinking i had something else in my tin that he might buy. - Quite a few mall/pub/etc security people that did everything starting with asking nicely and ending up with pretty much harassment about the RYO i was smoking. - One granny giving me “the look” when i was rolling up a few smokes while sitting on a bus. - Countless friends disgusted by my snus habit :). Commercial smokes are the norm , everything else is odd over here.

Well I’ve never had run-ins with police over snuff or tins, but I did put myself in rehab to help me with my alcoholism and I can tell you that 95% of the people in there were well stocked with tobacco. Every hour we had a break so we could go have a cigarette, and when it was a really stressful day, there were always cans of chew going around. As for snuff, not many people in Utah partake in it, but I know for a fact that bullets would not have been allowed, and its quite possible that snuff wouldn’t have been allowed either. With all the drugs that sniffed, it’d have been hard to tell who was sniffing drugs and who was sniffing snuff. A room full of addicts sitting around sniffing stuff with runny noses would just be too much for the counselors to take and leaves too many possibilities.

There was a commenter on a recent BBC article about snuff who said they’d spent a night in jail when officers arrested him on suspicion of trafficking heroin, but was released the next day. I’ve never had an issue, although I don’t often take snuff in public. If someone was giving me a real hard time (mall or school security and the like) I think I’d just tell them to call the cops and ask them to bring a field test for heroin or whatever else they were accusing me of using. In the US, I imagine it’d be simple enough. Cops come, guy says he thinks I’m blowing heroin or coke or whatever, I tell them they can test a sample from any of my tins I may have, test comes back negative and I go on my way. British cops don’t have to deal with quite the same madness officers do here concerning lawsuits, so I imagine they’d be more inclined to just arrest me. Here, if a cop arrested me after I’d let him test whatever he wanted to his hearts content, I imagine I might have a fair shot at securing financing for the rest of my college education.

I take pride in being as counter-cultural as possible, so I couldn’t care less what anybody thinks about my in public snuff or snus taking. Most people do not hassle people who look like me; it isn’t worth it. Scuff yourself up a little, grow your hair to shoulder length, use a beard trimmer to maintian about 1/8 inch of stubble, trim down to about 170 lbs. so you look like a member of “The Westies” back in the day, and practise “The Stare.” Most people will be glad that you have your fist pressed to your nose instead of their’s. As far as the police go, you should never consent to be searched or allow a search of your property, including your car, under any circumstances. If they have probable cause they’ll search you anyway, but just shut up and let them do their worst and then fight it out in court. With all due respect, Stand Up for Your Rights.

I’ve posted regarding a situation where I was forced to leave a volunteer food bank because I was seen sniffing a suspicious powder. The director wouldn’t listen to me and refused to look at the Poschl box I held up for display. I’ve also had people think I was tooting drugs in restaraunts and gotten the dirty stare from an old lady when I took a line of snuff off the back of my hand at a store. I attended a VA 28 day in-patient substance abuse program and carried and used nasal snuff the entire time. We were drug tested daily so none of the staff really cared about it and readily accepted my explanation that it was tobacco. Then again it was the VA so they don’t really care about anything. I did refrain from using a bullet or sniffing during the NA meetings out of respect to the drug addicts present who might have found it to be a trigger for their cravings. I am also a retired Police Sgt. and have worked the streets as well as undercover narcotics. At the time I knew only vaguely of snuff and brought a can of Garret to the station once but no one cared. A few old timers knew what it was but at the time I was using it orally. I never came across nasal snuff during my career. Illegal powder substances are not usually found in 10 or 20 gram tins or plastic flip top boxes. Only dealers and mules would carry anything more than a tiny ziplock baggy full and even then they would have to be pretty stupid to brandish it about. The average ‘dope user’ doesn’t have tons of money and would only be carrying far less than a gram. Powdered substances I saw ranged anywhere from clear ice crystals, to white, to red, to brownish or tan, and just about any combination thereof depending on what it was, how it was made and what it was cut with. Some police have field test kits to detect the presence of opiates, meth, cocaine, or even LSD. Due to the cost we rarely carried them with us though. If you get jacked up by an overzealous rookie who thinks your snuff is actually meth or something illegal then in Texas you can easily be taken to jail and charged with possession. You will be held until a judge arraigns you at which time you are released pending analysis (RPA’d). The case will be dropped once the results come back negative from the lab but in the meantime you have been permanently booked into the state computer system with a mug shot, fingerprints, and a criminal record you will now have to get expunged. Though you were not convicted, you will now be obligated to answer “yes” as to whether you have ever been charged with a felony. You can sue and may get some money since cities tend to settle out of court to avoid litigation expenses. However, you will have gone through a frustrating, embarassing, and maybe costly experience when its all over. You may have a James Dean attitude and not care all you want but what I’ve just described is a very real scenario that could easily happen. I’m amazed that I haven’t heard of it happening yet but I imagine its only a matter of time. The majority of cops are pretty sharp and would probably be able to figure out your nasal snuff isn’t illegal, but there are a few screwups who manage to slip into every agency. I’ve seen people brought in for having a few marijuana seeds in the floorboard of their car or a tiny baggie with only a trace of powder residue in it. The bottom line in my opinion is to use common sense and discretion. The legal system is a nightmare and once you get sucked into it you’ll find out just how far your freedom goes. Cops have a saying, “You can beat the rap but you can’t beat the ride”. I for one hope to never take that ride.

I recently went to a Blues hockey game where smoking is prohibited, during each intermission I took out my smashbox of rooster and took a couple pinches. I got a few dirty stares from the middle aged people (in their thirties) around me, but a couple old timers who were sitting in back of me actually asked for a pinch which ended up clearing my “name”. I have never seen so many old timers “cry” lol. I believe that if you act like its no big deal and don’t try to hide it, you won’t have problems besides the occasional stare.

Wow, I never thought of myself as middle aged. Wow.

I’ve said this on here before. I’ve actualy have had several times where people called the police on me for smoking rolled cigarettes or my pipe when I was a teen. I once had a stupid girl tell me I was cool for snuffing herion when I was doing a dean swift (somehow I was the asshole when I told her that wouldn’t be cool and that I’d never heard of strawberry herion before.) I once had a police officer roll past me as I was snuffing from a bullet, he looked suprised and gave me the what an idiot head shake. Never been pulled in. Never been searched except for once during a long story where I fit the discription of a perp, the cop and me had a long conversation about slow days at work and tobacco. Wasn’t the most pleasant experience, not too horrible either (fortunatly I had so much stuff crambed in my pockets he missed several key items.

thank you everyone who’s been replying. Spyro;s response is especially sobering to me. I would like it if he or others with that kind of knowlwedge might come back with some practical tips on how to maybe avoid such things until/unless somebody does that, I have decided as a result of all that’s been said so far: Bullets are too associated with other drugs and this overrides (to me) any convenience they might provide. (won’t be carrying bullets with only the possible exception of tall green QWS ones which look like cold treatments) Its probably best whenever possible to carry your sniff in its original marked container (some, like rooster and especially WE Garrett would have problems here) sniff is probably best used very sparingly in public at all (I know I know, sucks but may be true). I guess if I had an encounter with an officer and was asked after it I hope I’d have presence of mind to immediately offer up the container for his inspection and ask him to investigate it for himself, open the lid and pass his nose over it etc (hoping an officer would recognize the scent of tobacco etc, and if any other flavors were involved, that he’d hopefully recognize that most street drugs don’t reek of "irish coffee’ or ‘Jasmine’ etc). I may have a slight advantage in that I am a middle-aged (and that’s 45, not 30 lol) very short disabled woman who’s disability-related oddities would most likely be the most striking or first observable things to an officer (as it is with most people I encounter). Odd or curious or hostile stares from general people-at-large are kind of par for the course with me, not sure I’d recognize or know the difference from an ‘all purpose’ glare I might already get from a sniff-specific one e.g., a couple of weeks ago while at the donut shop with a friend some old guy neither of us knew suddenly came up to our table and gave some cryptic rambling explosion about ‘people who use cell phones in public’ and when, quite confused at this, I reached for his arm to get his attention to ask him what he was talking about, who’s using a cell phone (and why was he at our table telling us this?) he looked kind of flustered, and stomped back to his own table. I had used my communication device to ask him these questions. It took my friend and I (neither of us own a cellphone) a full 20 minutes to figure out the guy had actually been complaining about my communicator (which speaks in a digital voice). “People like me” I don’t suppose are the first image that comes to mind when somebody thinks ‘drug user’ I’m far more prone to be mistook for someone who’s deaf, mentally retarded, having mild Cerebral Palsy, a stroke victim (etc etc) but I suppose it could happen (an officer could, with a stretch of imagination, I guess find that I’m ‘odd’ due to ‘being on drugs’ and the thing I just sniffed as the culprit). If it happened I would also be at disadvantage to explain myself

Never had a problem, but in the UK, a pinch of snuff in most places is still recognised as just that.

If I felt odd about snuffing in public, I’d use a fliptop from a company, so if I am ever questioned, by anyone, I can say this is tobacco snuff, and show them the container, and offer them a snoot.

Why should anyone care what people think, police included. I am actually turned off by the idea of offering people snuff. Would you want a smoker coming up and offering a puff? Use your snuff, use it where you want. If anyone gives you a look, give them a look back.

@cstokes4 the idea of having a ‘have you ever been charged with a felony?’ on you for the rest of your life that you have to answer yes (read spyro’s post above, unfortunately it really makes a whole lot of sense) is why I care what they think. Also, A lot of things I must depend on to survive would be cut off from me for having something like that.

YOU ARE USING TOBACCO NOT METH, COKE, or BLACK TAR HEROIN. But hey, if you want to spend the rest of your life stuck in a closet scared that the big bad boogey man is going to come get you, then by all means do so.

I’ve never had a weird look, or a question. I’ve used snuff in front of police, security, etc. I would like to think that they realize what I am doing. In the last 3 years that I have been snuffing, I have never been arrested, interrogated, questioned or detained. Of course, maybe it’s the brown powder coming out of a black snuffbox that smells of citrus instead of a white powder that sends the test kits blue. Everyone complains about government interference in their lives, all the while they are the ones restricting themselves.

I think at least one person here is missing the point. @cstokes4 Gotta love how with you its one erratic extreme or another “nobody should care what anybody things no matter what defying all logic and common sense” and if they do in any fashion whatsoever its “hiding in a closet scared of the big bad boogeyman?” wtf? and in capitals no less? drama much? Like I said, I get peculiar attention as a fact of my life from general smoes out there, so I’m not really worried if billybob at the next table doesn’t like it (odds are billybob is already pissed off because of the artificial voice coming out of my communication device)… I care when something completely stupid, a gross misunderstanding by authority figures could, in my case, end up costing me my home and barred from living in any other (subsidized housing), food and medical assistance. the fact that you ‘don’t get it’ is not my problem.

Me, drama? I’m not the one so worried about persecution from using tobacco in pubic that I’m willing to refrain from doing so. Paranoid much? I think the person missing the point is you.

Okay, okay I get it and I have the answer… Don’t use it.

@Tc2642 the biggest difference near as I can tell is that people here simply don’t know what it is.

@cstokes4 if you got it you’d know you’re being a complete ass for absolutely no point or purpose other than perhaps your total failure to actually *read* what’s been said before going *apeshit.* Once I could understand and overlook… but now multiple times? You have the distinction of being perhaps the first and only troll I’ve had the displeasure to encounter on this forum. *Good Job*

I’m anything but a troll. And maybe if you would have *read* my 1st reply and not reacted to it with such disdain, perhaps I wouldn’t have to be *“the first and only troll”* If it’s any comfort to you, in the 3 years I have been on here, and of the 1,500 members on here, I have never heard of anyone getting arrested for snuff.

again, If you’d have taken the time to actually *read* before going ballistic, the topic wasn’t/isnt about anyone ‘being arrested for using snuff’ there has been a subset discussion about the potential that exists to be erroneously booked or process initated etc over mistaken identity (of the snuff in question) why aren’t you flying off the handle at those who’ve actualy been officers and contributed to this conversation? What is it? because they’ve either been here longer than you, are male, or is it because they are authority figures? You’re only a troll because you’re making the choice to be. Own and take responsibility for your own actions, Alternatively you could choose to go out and make a loud public spectacle of yourself, be as obnoxious to everyone within eyesight and earshot as you can, snuff tin in hand boldy and proudly in hand the whole time – I think that’d be a much better response, one you should hurry and get right on.

Sigh…_again, If you’d have taken the time to actually *read* before going ballistic, the topic wasn’t/isnt about anyone ‘being arrested for using snuff’_I read the entire thread, and if you look at my first post, you will see that I was not so much going “ballistic” on you, as it was directed more towards the idea of being afraid of using tobacco in public._why aren’t you flying off the handle at those who’ve actualy been officers and contributed to this conversation? What is it? because they’ve either been here longer than you, are male, or is it because they are authority figures?_You are more than welcome to check my register date against the others, if you so choose. Why does it matter that they are male? You said that one, not me. And again, if you read my first post, again, you will see that I openly say that we should not be afraid to snuff in public, even in front of authority figures. You’re only a troll because you’re making the choice to be. Own and take responsibility for your own actions, Again, I am anything but a troll. I have been a respectful member of this forum for the past 3 years, but I also call a spade a spade._Alternatively you could choose to go out and make a loud public spectacle of yourself, be as obnoxious to everyone you can, snuff tin in hand the whole time – I think that’d be a much better response you should hurry and get right on._Sorry, I’m not the one making the paranoid threads here… you are.

I, for one, will vouch that cstokes4 is not a troll. He does not linger on the forum looking for ways to interject in a discussion and cause disruption, anger, or other emotional responses. I have yet to notice an off-color post from cstokes4, including in this thread. I do agree with both of you on this point and I think that the answer is somewhere in the middle for most people. I, for instance, do not snuff publicly at work because I am the boss and I don’t feel it is appropriate (I would not want one of my tellers snuffing while processing a customer’s deposit). However, I don’t think twice about taking a pinch in a crowded bar or at my table at a restaurant. Typically, nobody notices and even when they do, they do not question me about it. I also live in Minnesota, where folks are notoriously anti-confrontational - but that’s beside the point. Snuff when and where you are comfortable, simple. In the intrest of civility, let’s try to keep the finger-pointing and personal attacks (name calling) to a minimum. There is nothing positive that can result from escalating a conversation about snuffing into a full-blown fight. Let’s all breathe for a minute and remember why we are here - to spread the joy and knowledge of snuffing to others around the world. I raise a pinch of Wilson’s IHT #22 in reconcilliation…

Listen, if cops really want to hassle you, they will find a way. Snuff or no snuff. Really, though, I think even the most dim-witted rookie isn’t going to waste his or her time on someone with snuff. If you are truly paranoid about this, carry the snuff in its original tin instead of a snuff box or smash box. (I don’t use bullets because I don’t think they work worth a damn.) In the extremely unlikely event you encounter any hassles over that, you have the right to insist that a supervisor be called to the scene. Then let the rookie get torn down by his/her supervisor in public. I think the likelihood of any of this actually happening is virtually nil. There is probably a greater chance of cops planting something on a random stranger. Really, cops have better, or at least bigger, things to do than waste their time hassling someone over snuff. In other words, I really would not worry about it.

I want to add that the best thing to do is to educate people about snuff. You don’t have to go out of your way. They will come to you. When I am at a bar or restaurant, I have a tin of snuff in front of me. You’d be surprised how many people, mostly smokers, will ask about it. Perhaps some of those people are even cops.

Like Sandy **** I’ve never had any problems taking snuff, here in the UK.

I would like to second that Chris is not, nor has he ever been a troll- is intelligent, and adds much to this forum. Everyone must be careful about ‘reading into’ posts. Sometimes it’s hard to tell what a fellow is saying or how he’s saying it when you’re not face to face…don’t be too quick to suppose someone is personally attacking you. We all are in the same boat here, even though we have multiple opinions,( or multiple personalities like myself) we can survive. And yes, there is a major difference between the UK and US in snuff recognition in public, but there’s really nothing to fear–it’s just tobacco.

I come from a background with a very small community. We may argue and fight, but in the end we are all we have. The next time we meet it is like it never happened. In the snuff community, we are small enough we need to do the same thing. We tolerate each other for what we have in common and overlook the differences.

On a lighter note: My only run in involving cops and snuff was with a friend of mine who is on the force. I gave him some Superior Scotch, tried to warn him “smell don’t sniff” but nooo… He hoovered it and 30 seconds later had his head submerged in the swimming pool. This is the same buddy to whom I gave a pinch of Skruf stark. I watch the squad car go about 2 blocks down the street, stop, my buddy jump out and do a mad dash into a local restaurant (I thought there had been some sort of robbery or something) turns out he had the nicashits. But then again I do live in the south

Here in the UK I take snuff all over the place. I don’t care what people think, its tobacco…

Likewise. Never been an issue.

Same here never been an issue, but this being an ex mining area snuff is still quite popular here in the over 50’s group, but more younger people are using it too. I realise that snuff is not as widely known in the US but why the hell get paranoid about it? It’s tobacco, nothing illegal. Calm down, chill out and don’t worry! Stefan

@Snifs “Nicashits” - lol I can definitely relate. I sometimes take a pinch to help effectuate movement. Very effective. Maybe “Nicoshits” would be a better spelling? lol

I’ve only been snuffing for a couple months now, but I’ve never had any problem except from a few kids at college. Rather immature and make it sound like it’s some sort of drugs. I just tell them to grwo up. I think the reason it’s so well known in the UK and accepted is because there are some very famous mills about, combined with the fact that the UK is such a small island, where as the US is so large, something that is popular on the west coast might have never been heard of on the east.

Another Brit here and never had a problem taking snuff in public.

Yet another Brit who’s never had a problem with public snuffing; a few odd looks occasionally, but so what? I’ve also taken snuff through customs (in original tins and PC snuff boxes) and never had a problem. I would also like to reiterate that cstokes4 is most definitely not a troll, but he certainly does call a spade a spade, which I think is perfectly fine as everyone is entitled to their own opinion, just as everybody else is at liberty to disagree with it.

I think the issue among some Americans, is we don’t have a tradition of nasal snuff, like the UK, and Germany do. And while it may be mainly in the mind of the snuffer, most visions of people sniffing anything, esp powder, brings into mind illicit drugs. So, it would be a self paranoia, but based on doing something that in our culture is not the norm, and not wanting to be thought to be doing something illicit. It’s not unfounded in idea, but we know it’s not illicit contraband, and if you did get stopped, and an explanation did not help, which I think is next to nil to happen, a lawsuit might apply. Now if I did snuff in public, and I have, I just do it, and not make a spectacle of it. I wouldn’t line it up on a mirror and use a straw. I wouldn’t be “discreet”, or run to a corner somewhere, I’d just do it, as if I was putting a piece of gum in.

I recall entering a police station in Surrey in the mid 1970s to enquire about the whereabouts of a venue, chatting to the desk sergeant and finally offering him my box, which he accepted and took with aplomb. He left for a moment and returned with a tin of his own, which was medicated, to return the gesture. He thought I was going to be surprised that he took snuff. He was right. I was. My companion was also surprised and suggested that I didn’t attempt the same trick with an officer in the Met. Although Albert Pierrepoint was a well-known licensee and prolific executioner and not a policeman I met him as a participant in a studio audience hosted by Kilroy-Silk in London. He had several pinches of my snuff without sneezing before leaving with some of his ex-police chums. There can’t be many people who have had a hangman dip fingers into their box: fingers that pinioned, hooded and noosed hundreds of people. ‘Our Albert’, although quite old at the time, was still a sprightly Northern lad (quite different from Timothy Spall’s morose portrayal in the film) and, like the desk sergeant, keen to demonstrate that snuff held no surprises whatsoever.

I was stopped by a police officer who happened to be off duty in a coffee shop. I was taking snuff out of a bullet and he assumed I was doing cocaine. I showed him what it was and had him smell it (Dholakia chocolate), and he just chuckled a bit and let me continue my coffee.

On the question about rehab: I entered myself into a rehab program to deal with another drug addiction issue, and, like someone else said, about 95% of the people in rehab are cigarette smokers(as well as coffee-fiends!). Every hour, on the hour, (or sooner), we would be given a smoke break. There was also a few pipe smokers, as well as a few dippers. I was the ONLY one in my program that was a snuff taker. I decided to ask the Medical Director at my rehab what his opinions on Nasal Snuff were. His opinions were about what I expected: snuff taking isnt recommended of those in rehab, due to the fact that many people in the program are addicts of other insufflated drugs, and that snuff could potentially be a trigger for them to return to their drug of choice. The doctor did, however, say that he was proud of me for reducing my cigarette intake drastically when I switched to snuff, and that he thinks smokeless tobacco options are a much healthier choice for nicotine!

I wouldn’t say that we don’t have a tradition of nasal snuff in the States, seeing as our Senate has two snuffboxes, and one of the first ten trademarks ever granted here was for Garrett snuff. Maybe it’s the state I live in (Michigan), but I’ve never had any problem taking snuff in public, and I can count on one hand the individuals who did not recognize it right away as being snuff.

Well, we did have a snufftaking tradition up until the mid 1800s, when more and more snuff use shifted to oral use. Many of the snuffs that were made prior to this change in tradtion are still made today. Sadly we have lost all but two of the non scotch snuffs. In Michigan, there seems to have been a brief resurgance of snufftaking in the early to mid 20th century by the large influx of Polish immigrants. For awhile Kashubian (Polish) snuff was made in Detroit. Do a search on the site for Kashub snuff or Goike’s. I’m sure it was taken in other places as well where there were large Polish populations (Milwaulkee, Chicago, etc.). Also sadly that seems to have disappeared as well. Its up to us to revive the tradition. Doing it openly in public is the only way to spread awareness.

And hey, if you’re in sex rehab… better not watch any tv… too close to…

I’ve been a cop for 21 years, all in central London. I’m a Sergeant on a team in the East End at the moment. I’ve used snuff all my adult life - in the station and in my private life - and no one has ever batted an eyelid. I think maybe the English have a residual memory of snuff use. It’s seen as an eccentricity but not viewed with suspicion - at least in my experience. Cops in the UK have a wide range of search powers and these are used extensively in policing. The upshot is that cops in London get very experienced with what drugs look like and barring some new boy in the job making a mistake I can’t see anyone I know making an arrest for carrying snuff. Snuff is tobacco - we know what tobacco is.

It is funny how all the so-called reformed drug users refuse to try snuff, for fear its to much like there former habit. When it comes to law enforcement I’ll use my snuff bullets right there in front of them. When i spoke to a city counsel member about a new paraphernalia law the chief of police wanted to have approved. I simply busted out my bullets in my pocket and told this is used for tobacco; now it could be used for something else. (I told him) However this law would make it illegal for me to have this item because it could be used for nefarious purposes. I have busted out full tins of snuff and partook of the pleasure in front of the city attorney, judges, congressmen, mayor, city counsel, ect. And I have been hard pressed to be asked what i was doing… Now drug users and the reformed on the other hand have all gone bug-eyed on me; they are the fun ones to tease!!!

ibild you reminded me of a good way to spot pot smokers in a small group. Slowly pull a sandwich baggie out of your pocket and see who looks excited untill they realize it’s something else.

"The case will be dropped once the results come back negative from the lab but in the meantime you have been permanently booked into the state computer system with a mug shot, fingerprints, and a criminal record you will now have to get expunged. Though you were not convicted, you will now be obligated to answer “yes” as to whether you have ever been charged with a felony."

WTF? My second paragraph shows on the text box, but it’s not posting in the above entry. While the first part of this statement is true, anytime you go to jail you get put into the computer, the second part of this statement is largely incorrect. You are required to answer yes when asked “have you ever been convicted of a felony” (if you have been), but to ask if you have ever been charged with a felony is illegal. Also, it is highly unlikely it would even make it to that stage. Before you are charged with a felony, a prosecuting attorney has to present evidence to a grand jury making the case for your felony charge. A simple lab test would quickly throw out your charges as there is no illegal substance. So providing you didn’t get irate and add to your charges, you would be immediately released.

I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I really think the worse thing that would happen is that you’d get an unnesccary lecture about how close you came to get arrested and how maybe you should use other tobacco in public.

@ snuffegnugen I just applied to renew my Notary Public license last week. The state application form asked me whether I had ever been “charged with a crime, other than a simple traffic offense.” So I doubt it is illegal to ask if you have ever been charged. I had to disclose my underage drinking violation from college, even though the case was dismissed by the judge in the end.

Worth remembering that being arrested and being charged are two different things. A charge is a legal requirement to answer to a court and comes from being arrested for an offence and sufficient evidence exists for the matter to dealt with by a court. You can be arrested on suspicion of carrying out an offence (which actually covers most cases) but then be released without charge if it is apparent no offence has taken place. In the UK, the arresting officer has to explain the reasons for arrest to a Segeant who then authorises or denies detntion according to his interpretation of the facts relayed by the arresting oficer. I would suugest at this point the custody Sergeant would realise the substance was tobacco and release the individual with apologies and I would hope some words of advice to the arresting officer. In this case, no offence has taken place, no charge exists and the matter is complete.

@lincoln, I don’t know what the background checks for acquiring your notary public license are, but I work for the US government, and I know that for hiring purposes the only thing that will get you is convictions. The whole premise of our legal system in the US is that you are innocent until proven guilty. I know there is often a stigma associated with being charged with a crime, but if a charge was dismissed, or you were found not guilty by a jury that should go away. I’m not arguing with you by any means, but if merely being accused of a crime follows you around forever, that is bullsh*t and the system is flawed. It’s almost like being a witch, even though there is no evidence to support the claim, you are branded as such.

@snuffegnugen - I specifically said “charged” instead of convicted. There are many situations in which a person might be asked about charges. For hiring purposes, many private companies use generic background searches which will turn up an arrest charge. The criminal history (known in police lingo as a QH) will show 1-0; meaning one arrest and zero convictions for example. 1-1 denotes one charge and one conviction and so forth. Ideally, only convictions are supposed to be held against you. However, you are deluding yourself if you think a charge on your record will not draw attention and make an impression. The last three years of my career I was a Jail Supervisor and had to approve each arrest brought in during my shift. This adds another of many layers of filtering to ensure arrests are being done properly and legally. Not all cases are bound over to a grand jury either. Once you are booked in and your data is sent via computer to Austin, Texas, it’s there for good unless expunged or sealed. Yes, the system is flawed in that regard and you are branded. In any case, I posted to answer someone’s specific questions. I had no intention of causing alarm or outrage. I use snuff in public all of the time. The scenario I mentioned is real and possible but very unlikely. My advise would be to enjoy your snuff and stay away from illegal or suspicious activities that would give police a reason to believe it is anything else. I have to agree with what someone said earlier, the best way to tear down the wall of ignorance is by the snuff community using their snuff and educating the public about it. In time, paradigms shift.

Hey, what ever happened to whistlrr??

Banned

I guess I can add a relevant story about pipe tobacco and the cops. Anyways a few years back some friends and I were drinking beers in a park (illegal sadly) and I was smoking my pipe. Anyways a cop rolled up in the parking lot, and gave a quick once over of my car. Stupidly we had left a case sitting on the passenger seat minus a few beers which we had with us at a picnic table. Thankfully once we saw the cop pull into the parking lot we quickly tossed the bottles into a nearby bunch of bushes leaving a group of 4 guys just sitting at a bench, with one smoking a pipe. Needless to say any cop is justified in questioning what the hell we were doing and he did just that. Being university aged at the time, he automatically assumed my pipe was full of marijuana and demanded I hand it over. I willingly complied and he sniffed the bowl to investigate. Apparently this smell test didn’t erase his suspicions so he proceeded to bang the pipe against the park bench until all the tobacco had come out and was scattered around the table. Long story short their was no weed in the pipe and he really ought to have just believed me when I told him it was tobacco. On one hand I couldn’t blame him because he had probably never seen tobacco being smoked from a pipe in public before, but on the other he really abused his power. To me it seems like emptying someones pipe is akin to making them empty their pockets which is something that they can’t do unless they have reasonable suspicion a crime is being committed. Not snuff related but still good in my opinion

@john8363 - Look on the brightside, from the sound of your story, you weren’t arrested. That’s always a plus, right? When I was stationed in San Diego, I’d smoke a different pipe every day when I was driving. Base police, security guards, and random checkpoints would only ever casually ask “Tobacco pipe, right?” while I nodded my head, smiled some, and continued on after being waved ahead. An important thing to remember when you deal with other people (especially the authorities) is to keep a good attitude. I’m telling you, not passing the attitude test is just asking for trouble. If I get pulled over, if I decide that this man is wasting my time and mouth off like an idiot, what becomes HIS incentive to offer me a warning, some sound advice, and wish me a good day? Nothing does. He’ll want to stick me with that 5mph over, or tail light, or screechy brakes, or loud music or whatever. Snuff use, in Las Vegas, isn’t very prevalent. So, of course, many officers may have no clue as to what it is. But when you consider that unless you’re doing something dangerous, when you’re pulled over… pass the attitude test, don’t volunteer suspicious information unless you’re asked directly, and always inform the officer of any weapons in your vehicle. Just my thoughts.

My wife hates it when I take snuff in public, because she’s afraid someone is going to think I’m using drugs. I do it anyway; I’m not using drugs. I take snuff openly at work and people are interested. Probably it adds to my eccentricity, which is pretty strong already. I also use an electronic cigarette and get plenty of interest in that from druggies. Long story short, anything that isn’t a cigarette looks like drugs to someone. I just figure I’ll continue to be open about it all and trust that common sense will rule in the end. So far it has. My employment has never taken offense at my use of the ecig or snuff. Hell, it’s saving them a lot of my production in that I’m not leaving my desk to go smoke every hour or so. I really have a problem ‘hiding’ my legal activities, and I just don’t do it. The most I’ve ever gotten from anyone in public is a question what I’m using – not an accusation, because my openness shows I’m not doing anything illegal. I think people might react differently if I acted like I was trying to hide my snuffing; that would look suspicious. I just look innocent and get by fine. If the police ever questioned me about taking snuff I’m confident that my open explanation would carry the day. I’ve used my ecig in front of police often and never had a question. I haven’t had the opportunity to take snuff in front of police, but I’m sure I’d do it. I still believe that because I’m not doing anything illegal, I shouldn’t have to hide it. For what it’s worth, the one time I’ve been in rehab getting a smoke break was like pulling teeth. There’s no way they would have allowed chew or snuff. That was a total control environment.

john8363 too me it sounds like a good chance you got a rookie. just a guess. From my experience it’s usaly the newer guy that does something like that. New job jitters and the last thing you want if your a police officer is to not be taken seriously, sure you may just be a college kid (at the time) but if you don’t take him seriously same might apply to someone more violent and criminal. I never thought too much about this but new jobs always kind of suck because you don’t know what your doing as much as you’d like, man that must be worse as a cop.

p.s. I have had more problems with pipes or rolled cigs then snuff in the suspect column. The strange part is the one time an officer thought my snuff was illicit he just gave me a look and head shake that clearly said “idiot”.

I had a County Sheriff take my Toque mini bullet to forensics for testing because he didn’t believe the contents was tobacco. He also placed me in aholding cell with Godzilla the local hooker distributor. Scared me nearly to death. I am now very careful who and where I use nasal snuff. PS: I lost the bullet I carried daily. He said he wanted to keep it too show to his department. What could I say I just wanted to get the heck out of Jail. I would not do well in Jail for very long ( for many reasons, one being I only have one leg).

where did that happen?

Yeesh, what a chucklehead…so far I’ve had no run-ins with the Law but I eagerly anticipate the day I do, heh…

@bob happened in Dublin Ga.

thanks.

It seems a real on the edge thing to do in the states, your cops seem pretty jumpy. You could snuff into every orifice in your body in London and be ignored. I mean do people do crank right there on the streets? Long since stopped caring anyway as I retire on 9th Jan, wooohoo!!

Well im a recovering alcoholic/addict (2yearsclean) and i know most people in treatment centers smoke like crazy! and at NA and AA meetings they do too, i never bring snuff to meetings though because it could trigger someone

I think there are now proven links with nicotine eazing addiction cravings. Also a very high percentage of people with mental health issues smoke heavily; there’s some interesting stuff about this on Mr Snuffs site.

@Brandasaur, I’m a recovering alcoholic too, my “birthday” is 24th of December 1993. So I’ve been sober for almost 17 years and I’ve managed that by taking one day at a time!! I do take snuff to AA meetings but I must admit I seldom attend meetings anymore. My very first sponsor, who also Twelve Stepped me, is my only snuffing buddy. I can proudly say that I’ve converted him from a smoker to a snuffer! Edit: Are you happy to call yourself a "Recovering Alcoholic? I would rather call myself a “Recovered Alcoholic”.

Way to go, you are an inspiration. I got very, very near to full blown alcoholism but, cliche or not, was saved by the love of a woman. Ill never forget the secret bottle of wine I would have when I got in from work before the rest of the family - down my neck from the bottle in about 5 minutes. Makes me shudder. Well you did that budy of yours a great service!

@Snufster: Are you an ARO?

ARO= Amateur Radio Operator Agricultural Research Officer Appliance Replacement Option Airport Reservation Office Aviation Recreational Organization

Chuckle.

Armed Response Officer. In the UK most police officers don’t carry weapons. Some receive special training and are called out to dangerous situations where armed response might be needed.

There are a whole lot more than their used to be as gun crime has soared, in London and other major cities dedicated armed response vehicles are common and the norm. The old London bobby image is fast dissapearing sad to say. Ive spent most of my time as a detective.

Should we address you as DCI Snufster?

This site is weird. Ive just typed in two responses, one disapeared one stuck. Im now officially bored with this ‘improved’ website. I was a DC then took promotion exams and ended up running various teams. Officially retire on 9th Jan, although Im off as of now

@snuffster: Congratulations, join the gang. Jaap Bes.

I started smoking a pipe quite young, when all my mates were smoking cigarettes. Which has led to run ins with policemen. I used to be something of a metalhead, so perhaps that didn’t help- wearing Iron Maiden T shirts and a studded belt, probably doesn’t fit the stereotype for pipesmokers. So one time I was sat in a park, on the grass, reading a book, and puffing happily on a churchwarden full of some terrible cherry and vanilla cavendish that for whatever reason I thought was a good idea at the time. A policeman and woman come by, ask what I’m smoking, I told them, and they asked to see the packet. Of course I had it in a leather baccy pouch which I had just emptied, which didn’t help my case. So the policeman took the pipe and had a hard sniff at the bowl. I think the ash he inhaled nearly killed him, but after struggling to stifle a sneezing fit he left me alone. Another time, aged about 20, I was walking in a park with my wife, and sat down at a bench, still smoking a massive briar full of Light Flake (an altogether superior tobacco). A police van pulled up, and a young officer got out and came over. “what are you smoking in that then?” I explained it was tobacco, but he wasn’t having any of it, told me I was high as a kite and my eyes were like pinpricks. Of course they were, he was standing over me with the sun in my eyes. Eventually his mate came over too, an older bloke, asked me what I was smoking. I told him it was Dunhill Light Flake. He just said “good lad” and literally led his colleague away by the arm. But in terms of snuff, it’s only teenaged chavs who think it’s drugs, makes me wonder, do they waste perfectly good cocaine by taking it as a pinch? What do they think coffee tables, razor blades and banknotes were made for? Could be that the strongest potion they have is the glue filled lump of “dog bar” hashish they spend their pocket money on…

Most of my run ins with police tobacco wise have been pipe smokeing. And every single time it’s either a really young officer that seems more nervious then I’am, or some local yokel called about someone smoking drugs.

I definately think Pieter is an “Airport R?eservation Office” PMSLMAO Stefan

I work for a Sheriff’s Office and they all know I use snuff…on a regular basis. I even got a Sgt. hooked on it. He asks for some every time he’s around me…I don’t mind at all. One of the Investigators asked about it and wanted to try it. I’ve been there for 12 years though and have used it the entire time I’ve been there, so they’re pretty used to it by now.

Never been a problem for me on or off duty and I have made a few converts on the way. Ive yet to come across a cop dumb enough to think pipe baccy was pot, although one moron of a bar keep chucked me out of a bar when I was a teenager with the never to be forgotten words ‘you’re not smoking heroin in my bar’. Twat.

well he was right you were not smoking herion in his bar, and that seems to piss him off. Yeah I’ve been kicked out of places when I was a teen for smoking pipes in places it was o.k. because some twat thought it was something else.

I’ve never had any problems with snuff or snus use anywhere and I’ve been around. When I smoked rollies I was challenged few times when there was smell of ganja in the air but that was not big deal.