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TN may boost tax on 'roll-your-own' cigarettes 

Dozens of Tennessee tobacco shops have taken advantage of a tax loophole that allows them to sell roll-your-own cigarettes at a deep discount, but those days may be drawing to a close.

Tennessee lawmakers this week passed a bill that would require roll-your-own retailers to pay a licensing fee and a cigarette tax on each carton they sell.

And proposals in Congress, including one sponsored by U.S. Rep. Diane Black, R-Gallatin, would stymie the growth of roll-your-own machines by designating the smoke shops that house them as manufacturers.

The loophole has cost Tennessee almost $4 million in lost tax revenue since 2009, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Jason Wells, manager of the Cigar Parlor and Roll Smokes and Go in Hendersonville, says state and federal legislation could shut down his business and hurt the recession-weary customers who benefit from the lower prices of the roll-your-own smokes he and others sell.

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Roll-your-own cigarette bill headed to governor  

Tennessee Senate Passes Roll-Your-Own Tobacco Bill 

Roll-your-own cigarette bill passes Tenn. Senate  

Bill would require roll-your-own retailers to pay cigarette tax, use tobacco from registry 

Tenn. lawmakers target roll-your-own cigarette industry  

CANTER: Thanks for smoking ban  

Smokers may be moved farther away from hospital entrances 

Skits titled 'Smoke Choke Croak' are part of anti-tobacco campaign Wednesday in Tennessee 

State students to do part of anti-tobacco campaign 

TN students to do part of anti-tobacco campaign 

Cigarette smoke whether first or secondhand is very dangers for children  

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. --

Doctors at Niswonger Children's Hospital in Johnson City say cigarette smoke, whether from second hand smoke or from the child actually smoking themselves, is very dangerous.

Hospital officials say cigarette smoke may not have the sudden effects of bath salts or synthetic drugs, but say it is one of the most detrimental things a young person can do to their body.

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Smokeless tobacco used by many TN youth, Surgeon General finds 

Tennessee has the nation's fifth highest rate of smokeless tobacco use among young people, according to a Surgeon General's report released today.

In addition, burning a cigar is as common as lighting up a cigarette among Tennessee's youth, the report said. Between 10 and 15 percent of youth between 12 and 17 smoke cigars, which is the same as cigarette use. For smokeless tobacco, the rate was 5 percent.

However, tobacco use was much higher among young adults. Between 40 and 45 percent of Tennesseans aged 18 to 25 smoke, the report said.

The report also noted that Tennessee has devoted minimal funding -- less than one-fourth of the amount recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- to tobacco prevention programs.

Federal health officials are sponsoring video and app contests as part of a campaign to get the attention of younger people.

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Tobacco ban gets a face lift: Smoking sections?  

Recent concerns have been raised regarding the smoking situation on the campus of ETSU.

Legislation is currently being considered by the SGA that would include setting up designated smoking areas around campus.

Dalton Collins, president of the Student Government Association, suggests that the current rules are unfair and that they place an unnecessary burden on smokers.

"The smoking policy at ETSU is one that is unfair to every person who works, resides and pursues higher education on this campus," Collins said.

"By advertising a policy which bans all tobacco use except in the privacy of one's personal vehicle, ETSU has created a regulation which is unfair to smokers as it requires them to walk, in some cases, extreme distances to consume a legal product."

Due to the lack of enforcement of the smoking ban, non-smokers often feel powerless when filing complaints about second-hand smoke.

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Larry Wright killed in apartment blaze 

Cleveland Fire Department investigator Ben Atchley identified the man who died in a fire Thursday evening as Larry Wright, 59. . . .

Atchley said this morning indications were the fire originated in the bed and was possibly caused by Wright smoking.

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