This is really a question for US snuffers relying on imports from the UK, and I don’t seriously expect this to happen, although it’s possible. What would you do if snuff became unavailable? Not illegal, just unavailable for sale. I can think of a few reasons why this could concievably happen in the future: The UK government decides to ban/heavily tax etc snuff, and the sellers decide it’s not worthwhile any more, or go out of business. The US government increases the scope of the PACT act to include foreign sales, or introduces prohibitive import tax on tobacco products. Snuff manufacturers decide the market is too small or go out of business. Some other hellish (but hopefully entirely ficticious) scenario of your choosing. As most of us don’t live within driving distance of retail outlets that sell snuff, and we can’t buy it domestically online, what would we do? I’m learning to make my own, admittedly not because of the above unlikely scenarios, but because I’m interested in experimenting. What would you do? Turn to another form of tobacco, or try to make it yourself?

Moderator Note: Keep this one apolitical, please.

I keep a stockpile just in case such a thing were to happen. I have several years worth of my favorite snuffs tucked away and sealed

Yes, no politics, just assume that you can’t obtain snuff from overseas anymore, reason unimportant.

With a total lack of local snuff available I would do a couple things: 1. Look for snuff, and buy like mad, in any other city I go to if it was just an importing problem. 2. Grind my own from other forms of tobacco. It’s not hard, and while it would remove a bunch of great options from my enjoyment, it’s better than no snuff. 3. Grow my own tobacco and blend/grind my own batches. 4. Smoke, dip, snus as a last resort. Unless all forms of tobacco become illegal, I will do my best to continue enjoying it.

Well… must… stay… apolitical… AARRRGH!!! I’ve got some tobacco plants started in the yard, though increasingly, I wonder… OK, no politics.

force the hand of chance make interest too big to not be a phenomonon. Or learn the secrets of the snuff masters make snuff better then any that has ever been made.

That’s a good point, in a scenario in which all mail order tobacco sales were banned, we probably wouldn’t be able to get leaf either, growing your own might be the only option.

Try to get a buddy from overseas to mail me “things” . Definitely experiement with making my own, which I hope to do even if its never banned. I’d love to grow my own plants as well. Would be a great feeling of accomplishment to grow it from seed, cure it, and turn it into snuff - all by yourself. Rustica!

An idea in the back of my mind sprang up as I had seen a homeless boy fidgeting with his last cigarette. There is a ton of tobacco left to be collected from partially used cigarettes. Seemingly easy to collect, one could have a lifetime supply of snuff. Crazy? Yes, but certainly not beyond possible. Snuff is the smallest common denominator of tobacco use. In other words, snuff can be had from any other form of tobacco.

I’ve often lamented about how much tobacco I throw away in my cigarette butts, but I wonder how useful it would be. The tobacco in butts sure doesn’t smell good, it seems that a lot of the tar etc collects in it from the smoke passing over it. I wonder if it could be processed (toasted maybe?) to improve the quality? It would be awesome if it could be recycled into decent snuff, I’d have a constant supply!

Lol I would buy bulk pipe tobacco and toast the hell out of it. I couldnt live without toasts!. I would also probably start growing my own. After a while I would make an online store with my own snuff that I’ve made so others dont need to crave snuff anymore!

AHA! And how would you run your online store if mailing tobacco is outlawed completely? :oD See what I mean? This probably won’t ever happen, but if it did, it would be a thorny problem for us snuffers…

Oh I meant just mailing it within Canada, then there would be no taxes, customs ect.

I’m 25, and I think the majority of people in my generation grew up in smoke-free environments, for the most part. I think the majority of politicians nowadays grew up with parents that smoked everywhere (Car, house, etc). I’m hoping when more people my age begin to take power, that tobacco becomes less of a topic and issue, and it won’t be taxed and prohibited in all the ways we are seeing. We all know there are bigger fish to fry then tobacco. This is just my optimistic thinking.

@Brandasaur: Oops, I assumed you were in America, but if you’re in Canada, you have to play by the rules and pretend the same problem exists there :o) @Mark W, no politics remember, this is just for fun. I do worry that the exact opposite to what you say would happen though, people used to a non smoking environment may tolerate it even less…

No politics intended just a big picture view. (everything is political, anyways) I was thinkin of a more, out of sight out of mind, type thing. However, so many people are ill informed on the facts of smokeless tobacco these days its amazing. Every time I have a lip packed with snuff, or some chaw in my cheek they always have to tell me how I’m going to lose the lower part of my face. It is agravating.

Judging by the amount of marijuana grown and shipped around the US, I doubt it would be a problem to get away with growing or importing enough tobacco to make your own snuff. Most people have no idea what green tobacco looks like anyway. Guys in my area thought it was some sort of super lettuce or spinach. So to answer the question I’d grow and grind my own. I would lament the loss of the great snuffs we can get now, but I’d still have tobacco and I bet I can learn to add scents.

I think @MarkW has a point here. Younger generations don’t have an idea how bad things were back in like 60’s and 70’s for instance when smoking was allowed everywhere and the truth about cigarette smoking risks was suppressed. This is where current anti-tobacco hysteria comes from. I hope future generations will have more balanced views on tobacco.

@bigmick: we’re not really talking about tobacco being illegal, just snuff being impossible to import or buy online and thus disappearing from the market. Other forms of tobacco would be business as usual, but it’s already next to impossible to buy snuff from a brick and mortar store. I imagine we’d all either turn to other forms of tobacco, or (hopefully) start grinding our own snuff from available tobacco products, eg. pipe tobacco, cigars etc. One thing that made me think of this idea was reading about flavored tobacco being banned. Flavored cigarettes are banned now (except mint or menthol) and in NY City, they are trying to ban ALL flavored tobacco products. If this were to happen across the nation, we may have trouble getting hold of snuffs except plain or menthol. With fewer varieties to choose from, maybe the people who mail snuff to us from abroad would lose enough business that they gave up or went under. I hope this never comes to pass, but it’s interesting hearing what people would do if it did. Keep 'em coming!

To be honest, American scotches are my main go-to. While I live in Michigan (where snuff is scarce), we have friends who live in South Carolina who’ve assured me they’d be happy to send me a care package whenever I need it. So far I’m STILL working my way through a dozen 1.15-oz cans I bought 2 years ago…

i have a feeling some of the british members on here would be able to make themselves some pocket money

I thought the NYC ban got tossed out in court? Like many others on here, I’d likely just grow and grind my own. My tastes mostly run towards plain toasts, so it wouldn’t be too hard to make something that’d satisfy myself. Also, I plan on building up my Snuffpocalypse hoard even further in the future. If you assume I maintain roughly similar use and don’t exceed the average lifespan by much, 200lbs of snuff in reserve should nicely assure me against running out. I’m still planning on growing and grinding some of my own in the future when I have the opportunity.

I have “some” saved for a “rainy day” should it occur.

@shikitohno: yes, it got kicked out this time, but I’m sure it’s inevitable some day… I’m interested in plain toasts too, but I’m not having much luck replicating one. I think it might have to do with toasts having a lot of stem material in them.

love the main arguement against flavoured tobacco. That somehow it appeals to kids. Cause you never she adults in candy stores. And teens are known for being picky in their tobacco choice. Man when I was a teen you had to have some balls to smoke flavored cigs. Kind of like wearing a dress to school, if people left you alone it said a lot. Plus when I smell cherry pipe tobacco or vanilla I always think darn teens and their aromatics.

Open the humidor and “rule wisely”!

What would I do? Why nothing. I’m a law abiding citizen.

But in this scenario, it’s not illegal, just difficult or impossible to import/find in stores…

I would find a way and pay for it. Would cut down consumption signficantly but would continue on snuffing.

If it’s always legal,it should be time to brand propaganda in way to change a new market abuse ! -)

If anything were to make it unavailable in the U.S., I would a) Be perturbed and look into what caused this, b) maybe make some of my own (though not much, because I’ve done so before and I’m just not great at it), and c) probably come onto this site and pay top dollar to buy it off of you guys (all the site members).

I am leaning towards “get a rope”, just a little. If they banned it, wait a minute, It is banned for all practical purposes for some of us in the US already.

@whalen: Banned for all practical purposes? Where in the US?

There are several states which do not allow you to order snuff and snus, My state of Maryland is one, I have to go to a store that carries them, that is 84 miles away for me, for expired product. No snuff inventory to speak of. I do have access to American scotches though. All internet, phone, and mail order is illegal. So it is a 25 dollar gas, and four and a half hour drive for snus.

So you can’t even order from abroad? Yikes! That’s pretty much the ‘hypothetical’ scenario I was suggesting; if you can’t order from overseas, this is actually happening to you in real life :o(

"So you can’t even order from abroad? Yikes! That’s pretty much the ‘hypothetical’ scenario I was suggesting; if you can’t order from overseas, this is actually happening to you in real life :o( " Welcome to the U.S. of P.C.

@Whalen I would have to get a mail box in a neighboring state. UPS Store formally Mail Box Etc

I would finish my stock pile and then forget about it in about two seconds flat. Maybe not the sort of answer a snuff manufacturing, snuff web site owning, life long snuff taking bloke would be expected to give I suppose. But outside of the well being of my family and books, I can’t think of much that I would really care about if it disapeared.

@snuffster Have you ever had to go without for any certain period of time? Mostly curious because I haven’t and I’m wondering if there’s any sort of withdrawals or cravings…

Thanks guys! Yes ordering from overseas is a crime here! I do not want to be a scofflaw! Did you read the post where I just harvested a boat load of tobacco? Or that I have found that whole leaf tobacco is perfectly legal to buy? I have a master fall back plan in place! Besides, I live in Maryland, but I am a Texan by birth, Screw them all! Sorry for that, but I mean it! ( Ok, that’s kinda political, sorry!) The only thing I cannot do is discuss the many ways this whole thing will not work. As long as I have friends, I will survive. @Doctorbeat- My local grocery store has hundreds of cans of American scotches, just not the ones I want. I layed in some Honey Bee because I can get used to that one. I have a rather intimidating snuff collection which I put together before all this nonsense started. Trading snuff is perfectly legal, and you would not believe what kind of trading you can do when you have a mongo load of Grunt!

@transistor - I have a weird brain chemistry or something, it’s certainly not through any kind of superior mind set or self-control. If I’m deprived of it for any reason I just forget about it. I was the same as a smoker. I take several g’s of snuff a day and must be pickled in nicotine, which I love, I just don’t suffer from withdrawal much - mental or physical.

@Snuffster my father is the same way. He can use tobacco constantly and then one day decide he is done. No withdrawals. I have a lot of his traits but that is not one of them. I wish it was…

@whalen I happen to live in the Old Line State as well, but I am nowhere near as law abiding as you. As long as I can get it here without a problem, I am going to continue purchasing my favorite British products from those that will send them to me.

I would raid OscarWabbits house!

James S, where do your friends live and where are they finding snuff? I live in upstate SC (Spartanburg) and I can’t find anyone locally that sells anything but the various Scotches. If it’s anywhere north of Columbia I would certainly love to do business with such an establishment.

I have enough Rooster to last til death. I wouldn’t mind that much.

@Bloodnativ:  Actually that’s what I was referring to, was a supply of American scotches (which as you know can be found at any store, I stocked up at a Bi-Lo in Myrtle Beach).  While I enjoy trying different snuffs I’ve found I like scotches best.  Basically VERY little is to be found in the way of ANY kind of snuff here in Detroit, although one shop nearby sometimes has the odd can of W.E. Garrett.  As for finding any other kind of snuff either here OR in Spartanburg I’m afraid I’m no help…best of luck!!!

@James S.: Thanks. I was hoping for a miracle. I have 3 Scotches at the moment and I have actually started to like them somewhat over the last couple of days. I hated them at first. I talked to a local smoke shop the other day and asked about other snuffs like F&T, WoS, Dholakia, etc. His vendor doesn’t carry them but he said he would keep looking for me. I’ll post another thread if he comes through with anything so as not to hijack this one.

I am in agreement with most others. If snuff became unavailable I would probably try to grow my own. Tobacco can be difficult and prone to pest and disease, though all that can be overcome. I would doubt we(I) would be able to produce anything near the quality that is available but who knows…

@Bloodnativ:  Heh, first snuff I ever tried was W.E. Garrett and it blew my head off…ordered a Poschl sampler online, very first one I tried was Packard’s Club, aahhhhh.  But after a while I found myself coming back round to Scotches and now my Poschls sit idle most of the time…funny how that goes…