On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville addressed a proposal by Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to crackdown on Zyn — a popular smokeless alternative to smoking, encased in small pouches, available to consumers age 21 and older.
Tuberville called Schumer’s choice of focus “ironic” when compared to the issues facing the United States.
“You’ve got the guy that’s supposed to be controlling the Senate who should be talking about immigration, the economy, wars all over the world, and putting laws in that help American citizens,” said Tuberville (R-Auburn) “He’s talking about menthol cigarettes and Zyn, which is a nicotine pack.”
WATCH:
.@SenTuberville says Chuck Schumer is more worried about banning Zyn than addressing a Fentanyl crisis that’s claiming the lives of 100,000+ Americans every year. #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/vnoiNPnV3d
— Grayson Everett (@Grayson270) January 24, 2024
The Senator had a container of Zyn handy during the televised portion of the call with reporters to show viewers.
“Matter of fact, I’ve got one right here,” said Tuberville. “I want to show that to the people that don’t know what it is. It’s kind of like a dip, but it’s an alternative to smoking.”
According to Tuberville, Schumer’s move may harm those who have tried to steer away from more traditional and harmful forms of nicotine consumption such as smoking.
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“I’ve talked to doctors on and on over the years about vaping and about Zyn and things like that to get people away from smoking cigarettes. It has really changed the habit of many many people and saved a lot of people.”
“Now, is it perfect? No, it’s not. But for what Senator Schumer is doing, and doing away with menthol cigarettes, and doing away with Zyn, that really actually helps people — a lot better than smoking.”
Tuberville said Schumer would be better served by focusing his attention elsewhere on more pressing issues.
“Instead of worrying about fentanyl that’s coming across the border everyday which kills 100,000 people in the United States of America every year, for him to be worried about something other than that fentanyl shows you the direction that Schumer is headed and the direction that this Democratic non-American party is headed,” he concluded.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
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