Dear customers and prospective customers from Maine:

We regret to inform you that effective September 13, 2003 a new law in the State of Maine has affected UPS delivery of tobacco products in your state. Maine defines tobacco products as any form of tobacco or devices used in smoking, including papers, tubes and pipes. Resultantly, ALL future orders to Maine will be shipped via USPS Priority mail. We regret this unnecessary inconvenience and added expense to our customers, but we have no legal alternative.

Furthermore, this action is deeply disturbing to us as a business and as citizens of the United State of America. We believe this regulatory effort exemplifies the erosion of the rights and liberties of our honest/responsible adult citizens. In addition, we are concerned that these events are foreshadowing of what may be perceived as totalitarian "dictators" cropping up more and more around our country, mandating that we behave as they proscribe. As these apparently simple minded, incompetent bureaucrats impose their petulant, vindictive agenda against tobacco consumers, our entire society and American way of life will likely suffer. It is not just a health issue they are attacking; it is an issue of individual rights and responsibilities. We believe this ostensibly un-American action by these well-intentioned buffoons reflects a sad decline in our society. My friends and customers, we may be experiencing a change in our government to fascist socialism in an ugly form. Do we as free thinking adults really need government dictating every aspect of our daily life? We fear that our Nation's foundation on freedom, liberty, and individual accountability is gradually becoming a thing of the past. As these paternalistic despots "protect us from ourselves for our own good" many Americans may believe this condescending protectionism erodes the very fabric of our country and way of life.

It is a sad day indeed and we share your pain. We suggest you contact every politician available to you and demand a return to the American principles that made our country great. Otherwise, this unfortunate event may be forewarning of continued erosion of our cherished rights and individual responsibilities.