So I have a dilemma on my hands and was wondering if any other members have been through this. I used to smoke for 12 years but as my lungs stopped behaving when I was breathing I stopped that with the use of Swedish snus. I continued along with that for 5 years and eventually took up snuff in place of Swedish snus. About 2 years into my snuff usage I found I was still continually craving Swedish snus. There was something about the aroma, the texture, the flavour and the usage of it that I was still wanting to take part in. A few months ago I found that Swedish snus could be found in one little store near my home which is utterly amazing because finding any tobacco products here is astonishing, let alone snus. So I picked up a can and was on my way with snus again. Sadly though I live in a part of Canada in which the Provincial government has raised the taxes so high on tobacco as a way to discourage the population from it’s use while lining their pockets with the collected tax. A can of Swedish snus costs about $17.00 here for a 20 gram can of portions, and there are only 3 flavours to choose from. I decided I wanted more selection and fresher product, so 3 cans shipped from Sweden and $50 import duty fee later I am finding it’s causing some friction between my partner and I. I have also recently taken quite a hefty pay cut to the tune of 30% of my income. That being said, all my bills are being paid, everyone is eating well and financially things are being taken care of. Here’s the problem. I really REALLY enjoy tobacco but most people in my life consider it a harmful substance that does nothing but destroy my heath and wallet. I’m told to just give it up and be happy without it. I also feel quite bad about the cost of it as my province sees fit to punish tobacco users with an insanely high tobacco tax. Currently I would spend about $50/month on tobacco products compared to the $150 I used to spend while smoking. I would consume much more tobacco if I could afford it. A 25 gram tin of snuff will usually last me a month and a can of loose snus will disappear in about 10 days. I’m not wanting to cut this back any further. I feel I have reduced my tobacco costs as low as possible while also making sure to use the healthiest forms of tobacco and all I’m being told is it’s a waste of money and ruinous to my health. How would others manage their way through this scenario?
Well, those of you in Canada are living with this, and I feel for you, but enjoy the healthcare.
A WoS 450g drum costs me 50 francs direct from the mill. The import tax is 75 francs! Thankfully only about 1 in 4 of my tobacco purchases get noticed by customs so even when I do get a hefty import tax duty, I’m still saving a massive amount of money.
They do seem to catch most of my snus orders though, which is very annoying. 30 francs for a roll of odens. 45 francs import duty. It’s absurd.
thanks for the solidarity @SnuffySnuff and yes, if my orders come through without duty there is a massive savings. What would you tell someone in your family who thought it was a waste of money, a detriment to your health and you should just simply stop using tobacco?
Personally, I would keep on snusin and snuffin. It is something I do, you don’t like it, the door is over there. Do not let ANYONE make you feel bad because you use tobacco. Educate those around you, point them towards the evidence that snus and snuff are nowhere near as bad for you as smoking was, show them the evidence that it is not harming you. I went to the trouble of plotting a graph that showed my parents how much I spent of cigarettes compared to snus and snuff. I was spending close to £3,000 a year on cigarettes, I have about 3 years worth of snus in the freezer at a cost of about £300, the figures speak for themselves! Don’t go in all guns blazing, sit down with them, explain calmly and logically, and they will come round.
Tell them ok but they have to cut out something also. Everyone needs some little luxury. Those are terrible taxes btw. Probably would put me off tobacco it it was like that here. 20% VAT here is bad enough.
@Skell18 thanks for the advice, I was considering doing a presentation to all those involved about the benefits of the money I do manage to save and the reduced health risks with snus and snuff. Maybe I’ll throw in some charts too.
@thorgrimnr people love pie charts! 
Also throw in some actual pie!
The way I see it it’s your money and you’re not depriving your family so to hell with what people think.
@horus92, well you see my money is the family money and my health is my families concern…so they feel they have a say in it. What I find the most difficult to explain is it’s not something I want to stop doing. I like tobacco. I think it’s a great plant. I enjoy the use of it. They see it as nothing but a waste, and because smoking has such a bad reputation, some folks lump ALL tobacco into the naughty and bad list. That’s what get’s me goat. " Give me back my goat!"
You have to brainwash them
@horus92, well you see my money is the family money and my health is my families concern…so they feel they have a say in it. What I find the most difficult to explain is it’s not something I want to stop doing. I like tobacco. I think it’s a great plant. I enjoy the use of it. They see it as nothing but a waste, and because smoking has such a bad reputation, some folks lump ALL tobacco into the naughty and bad list. That’s what get’s me goat. " Give me back my goat!"
I’ve learned, you don’t get between a man and his goat!
Check out the WHO study on snuff and the German study funded by Poschl. Some studies examined by the WHO report find the rate of nasal cancer roughly doubles (though the Poschl study found no increase), but the rate of nasal cancer among American caucasians is about 1.4 in 100,000. The ultimate conclusion of the WHO was that “there’s no conclusive evidence” that nasal snuff causes cancer. You have a MUCH higher chance of dying in a house-fire or a car accident than you do getting cancer from nasal snuff. And google “smokeless tobacco cardiovascular effects”; smokeless tobacco probably raises the incidence of stroke and other serious cardiac events somewhat but at a MUCH lower rate than smoking, and unlike smoking smokeless tobacco causes no structural changes to your cardiovascular system. Smoking will actually constrict your arteries even if you quit (though they can get better through exercise and whatnot), while smokeless tobacco just temporarily raises your blood pressure, and not by much either IME using a home bp monitor.
thanks all for your suggestions and support
Driving a car is dangerous, hell, venturing outdoors is dangerous, so is staying inside; dining in restaurants can damage your health, so can exposure to environmental toxins common in most homes. That’s life. Your partner is going to die some day, too. What matters is whether you and your family enjoyed life. Risk abatement is legitimate, that’s what snus and snuff are for; a happy ‘you’ makes for a happier family…
@thogrimnr You need to point out that you are NOT smoking.
Growing your own sounds like a fantastic idea, one tobacco plant will produce something like four to five ounces of tobacco.
Check out the WHO study on snuff and the German study funded by Poschl. Some studies examined by the WHO report find the rate of nasal cancer roughly doubles (though the Poschl study found no increase), but the rate of nasal cancer among American caucasians is about 1.4 in 100,000. The ultimate conclusion of the WHO was that “there’s no conclusive evidence” that nasal snuff causes cancer. You have a MUCH higher chance of dying in a house-fire or a car accident than you do getting cancer from nasal snuff. And google “smokeless tobacco cardiovascular effects”; smokeless tobacco probably raises the incidence of stroke and other serious cardiac events somewhat but at a MUCH lower rate than smoking, and unlike smoking smokeless tobacco causes no structural changes to your cardiovascular system. Smoking will actually constrict your arteries even if you quit (though they can get better through exercise and whatnot), while smokeless tobacco just temporarily raises your blood pressure, and not by much either IME using a home bp monitor.
I had high blood pressure until I quit the ciggies. I’ve tested BP at home with assistance,( packed the nose full, waited for the nic hit, and no change in BP) my 1st good BP read in years! I can smell and breathe. I spend a fraction of what I used to on tobacco. Snuff, the most artfully crafted, quality mastered and most enjoyable form of tobacco use, IMHO. Safer, tastier and more affordable, twist my arm. :-bd