July 17, 2025 • 38 mins
A newly proposed bill in Massachusetts proposes a ban on tobacco and certain nicotine products for people born after 2006. Do you think this is a good idea for the state or do you believe in a free market where individuals and businesses make their own economic decisions?
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
All right, welcome back everybody, as we move into the
nine o'clock Iura, thank you very much, Dan Watkins, and
we are going to talk about an interesting proposal at
the state legislature.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
I don't have like strong strong feelings, but I'm going
to channel David Brednoy tonight, one of my predecessors here
in this eight to midnight slot on WBZ on Boston's
news radio. There is a piece of legislation which is
called the Nicotine Free Generation Bill, filed by a state
(00:43):
representative from Brookline, Tommy Vittolo, and a state Senator from Winchester,
Jason Lewis. And essentially it seems on the surface to
be a fairly simple proposal, and I think everybody will
understand the implications. This would outlaw the sale of any
tobacco products to anyone born after January first, two thousand
(01:06):
and six. So if you were born on January two,
two thousand and six, you cannot purchase legally and it
would not be able to purchase legally any tobacco products
here in Massachusetts. Now, I assume that that's going to
include not only cigarettes, but I assume it's going to
(01:29):
include cigars, chewing, tobacco, vaping. So that's why it's called
the nicotine Free Generation Policy. Now, I am not a smoker.
I despise the smell of cigarettes. If I'm walking down
the street and I catch a whiff of someone smoking
(01:52):
on a cigarette with a filter or without a filter,
it bothers me, to be really honest, because I assume
that there is secondhand smoke damage that all of us
at some point, those of us who are adults, and
particularly on the wrong side of fifty adults, of which
I count myself in that category. All of us probably
(02:16):
grew up in neighborhoods, particularly if you grew up in
Massachusetts in the fifty sixties seventies, just about every adult
seemed to smoke. And I never enjoyed being in a
room where people were smoking, whether it was a private house,
(02:39):
a home, or whether it was a restaurant. There was
a point in time not that long ago, and you
had people smoking in public restaurants, and then they had
they used to smoke on airplanes. You have to sit
up back if you're in the smoking section. So I
think we have come a long way in terms of
(03:00):
deciding what we want to do as a society. However, however,
this will have an impact because even though Massachusetts has
I guess, seventeen cities and towns which prevent band tobacco
and nicotine sales to anyone born after January first, two thousand,
(03:22):
which means if you were trying to buy tobacco products
in Belchertown, Chelsea, Conquered Conway, those are towns in Massachusetts Conway, Hopkinson, Maldon,
Manchester by the CEA, Melrose, Nam Newton, Pelham, Reading, Somerville,
Stone and Wakefield, and Winchester. You can't do You cannot
(03:43):
do that. You would have to be at this point.
Let's say it's twenty five, so you'd have to be
at least over the age of twenty five, and maybe
well over the age of twenty five. It's almost the
same as buying alcohol. Now, prohibition didn't work in this country,
and I would be very much opposed if we were
(04:04):
trying to be in beer and wine, which are my
drugs of choice, if you want to characterize them that way.
But on the one hand, we are pushing mightily to
make marijuana available and other drugs available. They're talking about,
(04:25):
you know, some of the plant based drugs. There's all
sorts of issues to open things up here in Massachusetts,
and yet tobacco we want to close down. Now. Is
tobacco good for you? I don't think so. I think
most doctors would tell you that if you smoke, you
(04:46):
are going to probably deal with some very difficult consequences
at some point in your life. And I realized that
there are people who don't smoke, like me, who will
also deal with some difficult consequences our lives. We all
will deal with that unless some night we go to
sleep and we die in our sleep. So but I
(05:07):
just don't like the idea of banning now. It just
seems to me that there will be an impact here,
obviously people who live in those communities if they're border communities,
and none of them really seem to be particularly border communities,
but there are some that are close to the border,
(05:28):
Manchester by the Sea that would seem to drive people
to New Hampshire of Vermont, or Connecticut or Rhode Island
where maybe those these bands are not in place. So
there is an economic impact and it does impact other people.
My feeling's pretty simple. If you're like me and you
don't want to smoke, don't smoke. If you're like me
(05:51):
and you want to be able to go to a
restaurant that is smoke free, go to whatever restaurant you
might you might like to smoke free. At the same time,
I think restaurants, some restaurants, if they want to have
a smoking section, and I'm not a smoker, they should.
You know where adults aren't we here in Massachusetts the
(06:11):
idea of the nanny state does it's maybe no one's
bothered by it anymore. I don't know. So I say
I'm sort of channeling David Brudnoi, who was a pipe
smoker and also a hardcore libertarian. I mean he was libertarian.
David was libertarian to the core in my in my recollection.
(06:31):
So I'd like to hear from you again. You may
not smoke, okay, but maybe there's something that you enjoy.
Maybe you enjoy candy, sweet chocolate, I do. Maybe you
enjoy ice cream. All of those items may have a
negative effect on your health. Might have an eat enough
(06:52):
ice cream, you're gonna have a weight problem. Then you're
gonna have to go to awake in one eighty. Yeah,
you should any Maybe, uh, maybe there'll be a push
sometime to eliminate alcohol or beer or wine. I just
think we live in America and if, for whatever reason,
(07:14):
you want to smoke, I will advise you don't do it.
But it's just something about the government telling me what
I can and cannot do as an adult that rubs
me the wrong way. Maybe there are no Libertarians left
in Massachusetts. Maybe you'll make an exception. I don't know.
I'd love to hear from you. Six one, seven, two, five,
(07:36):
four ten thirty six one seven, nine three one ten thirty.
Smoking is not good for you. I don't think that
there's a benefit. Some may try to call and tell
me there's a benefit. I'll listen, that's fine, But I
think on balance there's no benefit that offsets the dangers
that you put yourself in from smoking. But I think
(07:57):
we're intelligent people, and I think we should be able
to figure out that on our own without without having
to rely. Well, what does the government want me to do?
What does the state want me to do? Now, don't
go off me, and don't go off and tell me
that I'm saying there should be no speed limits. No,
I'm not saying that that. Of course, you have to
(08:19):
have speed limits for automobiles and for trucks and all
of that. But if you are dumb enough to smoke,
or you're I guess hooked on it, okay. I wonder
what they're going to do with the the new pot
shops that are going to be opening here in Massachusetts.
(08:41):
I'm looking for my freedom lovers, and I'm looking for
those who want to tell me that it is one
area that should not be allowed. Six one, seven, two, five, four,
ten thirty. Those lines are full. Six one, seven, nine, three,
one ten thirty. Got one line there. Bringing on all
points of view, welcome on this one. I don't think
there's a wrong position. I've taken my position for liberty
(09:03):
and individual freedom. I've tried to do that for the
most part for eighteen years, and I will continue to
do that as long as I am running this program.
Coming back on.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Nightside, You're on Night Side with Dan Ray on w
b Z, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
By the way, we did invite both of the sponsors,
the primary sponsors of this bill to join us tonight.
Representative Vetolo said that he had a prior commitment, which
is fine, and State Senator Lewis simply sent us a statement.
I'm not going to read it in its entirety, but
(09:40):
he said, this bill will not take away the right
to purchase nicotine and tobacco products from anyone who's already
legally able to do so. I get that. Rather, this
legislation will protect future generations who are being targeted by
big tobacco from the harms of smoking and create a
healthier world for the next generation. Okay, that same principal
(10:01):
could apply to big big alcohol. I think let me
go to Steve and Gambridge. Steve is a smoker, he's
a libertarian. I think I know what he's going to say.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
I'm not Dan, I'm not a complete libertarian, but I
am a smoker and I'm enjoying a cigar right now.
And these sponsors of the bill, they say they're doing
it for the kids. You know, they're always doing it
for the kids. Yes, but according to the FDA, the
(10:30):
teenage smoking rate is at a twenty five year low
and the vaping rate is at a ten year low,
So the kids are not If big tobacco is trying
to lure the kids, they're not succeeding.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Yeah, that's well, it's all. It's just I think it's
better for people to make good decisions on their own
as opposed to the nanny state making good decisions for them.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
Well, I mean, for example, according to the Cambridge Chronicle,
Tom Vitolo's father gained one hundred pounds when he quit smoking.
That's what Tom Betolo to the Cambridge Chronicle. I don't
know how good that was for his health.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Well, yeah, I guess, I don't know. Everybody has a
different experience. We're all the creatures of our own experience.
And if if his father saw the light of day.
My dad was a heavy smoker and he went cold
turkey in nineteen sixty four when the Surgeon General's report
came out.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
Really he was a man, I think I think he
was a camel man, wasn't he?
Speaker 3 (11:40):
Yes, he was unfiltered, And I would go to the store.
They give you a quarter, go buy buy me a
pack of camels. I'm ten years old going to the store. Hi,
missus maclory can have a pack of camels. Sure, here go.
Speaker 5 (11:53):
Damn.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
One more question though, but when your father quit cold turkey? Yes,
I mean the people who are sponsoring this bill say
it such a frightful addiction that it robs people of
their free will. When your father quit cold Turkey, I mean,
did he have delirium tremens or was he did Was
(12:15):
he unable to go to work? Did he have to
go into a detoc center or did he just quit?
And that was it?
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Didn't have to go even too a d tobacco center.
He read the Inspector General's report. Now he had smoked
because he was in the military during World War Two
when it was always smoking. If you got him and
the tobacco companies were giving tobacco, giving cigarettes to the
military to distribute to GIS. And look, you know he was.
(12:43):
He spent two and a half years in CBI China, Burnman, India,
which was not a great place to be circle nineteen
forty two, forty three, and forty four. But he did
his duty, came back. He was a heavy smoker. Search
and General's report. Come on, I think it was. I
could be wrong here. I think it was February of
sixty four, went cold Turkey. That was it. He was
(13:04):
a hard headed individual. I can add an ethnic stereotype
which would be of my own, but I'm not going to.
Speaker 4 (13:13):
Let's put it like that sounds like someone of whom
you can be very proud.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Yeah, in many many respects.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
Well, if he spent time over in that area of
the world during WW two, he deserves our thanks.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Yep. He used to talk about he wasn't a pilot,
but they would fly what they called over the Hump,
over the Himalayas. It was. It was an interesting way
to see a different part of the world. Let's let's
put it like that. Steve has always thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
Great to hear and thank you.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
Thank you, my friend. Talk to you soon. Let me
go to Joe in Belmont. Joe, I'm not sure how
are you going to come down on this? How are you? Joe?
Speaker 6 (13:50):
Good? And it's better to light the candle than the
curse of darkness?
Speaker 7 (13:54):
Yeah, and I want.
Speaker 6 (13:54):
To disagree with you.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
That's good, okay.
Speaker 6 (13:57):
I think this should be a federal law aid to
ban cigarettes for the common good, but no laws made
against sexual immorality.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
I don't know how you pull that one in here,
but that's okay. Do you think there should be a
law banning alcohol?
Speaker 6 (14:15):
Ah?
Speaker 3 (14:20):
No, okay, we tried that once.
Speaker 6 (14:22):
Because you suffer in chemo and radiation. If you have
lung cancer.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
This is true. This is true, but then you know,
not everybody who smokes gets lung cancer. What about just
the idea of making decisions for yourself? Do you like
that idea or is that one that you're just as
comfortable having the government make that idea for it?
Speaker 6 (14:43):
Well? As farrus Band in cigarettes for the Cormon good.
I'm for that, but I don't like the government interfering
with our freedoms either. I'm kind of both ways. Yeah,
we'll just happening.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
It's kind of a there's a little bit of freedom
that's some people would argue as being taken away from
people here. But I got you in there, Joe, and.
Speaker 6 (15:06):
I appreciate you call the common good Dan, Well.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Sometimes it's who defines the common good, Joe. That's the problem,
you know. I mean, well, some people, some people would
say for the common good this, and some people say
for the common good that. I understand the common good.
I get that, but I also, individually, I understand individual freedom.
God has given us a brain, given us free will.
I've never smoked a cigarette in my life, Joe. I
(15:32):
have no interest in it. I had enough secondhand smoke
from my dad when I was a kid. But that's
Dan right back at you, Joe. Thank you much, appreciate it,
Thank you all right, thank you. Let me go to
my friend Harvey Silverglade. I think I know where Harvey's
gonna come down.
Speaker 7 (15:47):
Hi, Harvey, how are you good?
Speaker 8 (15:51):
I am going as the son of a man who
died at the age of forty eight from four packs
of Campbell's today. Yeah, I will I will not quote
Dan Ray. I will quote the English philosopher John Stuart Mill.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
He's a good one too.
Speaker 8 (16:12):
So in eighteen fifty nine wrote an essay called on
Liberty and came up with the concept of self regarding conduct.
That people should be allowed to do anything that does
not harm somebody else, but they can do whatever they
(16:33):
want to themselves. And that's my that's my my basic principle.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
I think that's the basic principle of your life, Harvey.
And I think you've been very consistent and very you are.
You're a libertarian, and you're an absolutist in the First Amendment.
And I would I'm not surprised, and I certainly understand
quoting John Stuart Mill. There's no doubt about that. I
don't know how many members of the legislature. Have any
(17:07):
idea who John Stuart Mill was of the Master, the
Great and General Cord.
Speaker 8 (17:10):
Here chas idiot guy l L by the way, is
st U r.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Art, Yes? And John is j Ohm. Hey Harvey, as always,
thank you so much. We'll talk soon. Okay, my friend.
Thanks buddy. Here comes the nine thirty news. We're right
on time to three interesting phone calls to get us
started off. The only line open right now is six
one seven, two, five, four, ten thirty. So far all
(17:44):
the callers have been men ladies. I would hope that
if we're going to do a good survey of this audience,
we're going to get a representation of female callers as well.
On this point, six one seven, two, five, four ten
thirty six one seven, nine three one ten thirty. It's
easy to say being tobacco, band cigarettes, ban cigarette being
(18:05):
at all. Okay, I get that, But is that really
in a free society, the way in which we should
live our lives. I don't know. I know how I feel,
but I'm more interested in how you feel. Back on
Nightside right after this.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
It's Nightside, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
Back we go. Let me go to Gideon and Quincy. Gideon,
you're next to the nightside.
Speaker 9 (18:29):
Welcome, Hello, damn hell you good Gideon.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
What's your take on this?
Speaker 9 (18:34):
Good? Well, I'm definitely a libertarian, you know, I do
believe in personal freedom. Has a previous call is s
that if you want to do something and it doesn't
impact anyone else, I'm all for that. But the only
thing about smoking is it's so addictive. But I don't
(18:56):
think it is a choice once you're addicted.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
Well, nothing is a choice once you're addicted.
Speaker 9 (19:02):
Right, right, right, So I don't think you know, this
whole idea of well, we should be able to do
what she wants, what we want, and if I want
to smoke, I should be able to smoke. But what
about if you're addicted, then it's then it's it's more
like you're not making a choice at that point, and
it's it's the fact that it's so addictive. And I
(19:25):
had a friend, her name is Michelle, and she she
had COPD, so she had breathing issues, and she was
living in my building for a while and she had
to leave because she simply could not stop smoking. It
was a no smoking building and she literally had to go.
(19:47):
And I said, Michelle, you know, all you've got to
do is not smoke, and you can stay here. And
she said, I can't stop getting I've been smoking since
I was fourteen years old. I can't stop.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
I understand that. But but but apply that theory, which
is a legitimate theory, apply that theory to alcohol get in.
Do we also want.
Speaker 9 (20:11):
Well, as you said, we tried that.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
No, we did.
Speaker 9 (20:14):
I'm an alcoholic. I'm an alcoholic. I'm in recovery. You know,
I don't drink anymore. I had to stop.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
Okay, So, but but we tried that one hundred years ago,
and now it's one hundred years later, and we were
in the middle of prohibition one hundred years ago, and
it just seems to be where do you draw the line. Look,
there are people who are addicted to candy. I arguably
am addicted to chocolate. I think if chocolate were made illegal,
(20:41):
I would be buying it on the black market and
I would be in jail.
Speaker 9 (20:46):
I mean, your points taken, It's not an easy question.
Speaker 8 (20:49):
I don't know.
Speaker 9 (20:50):
I mean, I can't say that anyone should be able
to say you can't smoke, you know, if you don't
want to do that. But it's just the fact that
when when cigarettes first came out, they were giving them
out for free, right they had, you know, these young
young girls giving out cigarettes for free. And I don't
(21:10):
think people knew.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Well, I think cigarettes and tobacco gideon been around a
long time. They were giving it out free, giving out
cigarettes free to US military personnel in World War Two.
Speaker 8 (21:22):
I know that.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
And then they were giving out little candy cigarettes that
was stopped to kids. I remember candy cigarettes. So, I mean,
obviously it's a tough question, and I respect people on
both sides, but if you do it to tobacco, what
(21:44):
about going back to alcohol? What about candy?
Speaker 9 (21:46):
I mean, you know, it's not a simple it's not
a simple question. But the other thing is, I guess
because they're not saying, we're not saying anyone now who's
smoking has to stop. We're just saying for the you know,
for the kids who are growing up, anyone want to
(22:09):
not be able to buy.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
Them anyone born after January first, two thousand and six.
So hey, we'll say, yeah, all right, Hey. I enjoyed.
I enjoyed our conversation. It was thoughtful and it was
from the heart, which is the best conversations we can have.
Speaker 10 (22:26):
Thank you, You're welcome.
Speaker 9 (22:28):
What was the pleasure?
Speaker 3 (22:29):
Thank please call again. Thank you very much. Let me
go to Buck in Gloucester. Buck you next on night side.
Speaker 10 (22:35):
Well, I'll tell you from the heart. It was beautiful
to hear about your father. And I'm not surprised You're
such a great man. So I like what you are articulated.
But I like the idea that it makes young people
just think about the gravity of smoking because they have
that prohibition stated okay, but there's the uniqueness for me.
(22:58):
In the eighties, I was in New York and I
think I shot the last tobacco commercial and it was
for it was it was for Redman Chewing tobacco, okay.
And in the first scene, Dan, I'm sitting there looking
over my land, and they gave me the real tobacco
to put in my mouth, right, And I don't smoke
(23:20):
and I don't drink, right And Dan, after that was
was shot, I stood up and I almost fainted the
nicotine and the sugar in it. Right. But I like
what you said also about not liking cigarette smoke. But
interesting enough, cigar smoking I like because of association with
(23:45):
my paternal grandfather in Maryland and yeah, yeah, and listen
to this. I've never done marijuana at all, but I
was in a I was in an athletic dorm at
my college, and the football players would really get into
the marijuana on Friday. So smelling marijuana reminds me of Friday.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Wait before the game on Saturday, they're getting.
Speaker 10 (24:10):
Stoned, Yes, sir, maybe, yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
I would think that maybe Saturday night they might be
inbibing a little bit.
Speaker 10 (24:17):
But you would think that, well, you to make it
through the week. And they did it right at the
end of the day. And that was the association. And
another thing in my experience. My mother was from Winston
Salem Tobacco Road, and it was a whole different Uh yeah,
mindset down there. I remember my older grand my older
(24:39):
uncle said to my youngest uncle he was smoking bantage,
you know, and my older uncle said, you're not smoking
you know what I mean? It was it was so interesting,
but uh yeah, I liked the idea. But I do
like the libertarian kind of you know, philosophy. But but
I think it's good if kids see I got to
(25:02):
wait till this point, you know, Okay, Well I would.
Speaker 3 (25:04):
Think that, look, I can tell you this that when
you and I were growing up, Yeah, most major League
baseball players, Nellie Fox and others had a jar of
tobacco in the bill tuttle, okay, And I think there
were a lot of kids who probably looked at those
roll bottles. I know that Devors would always be be
(25:29):
chewing some He had some sort of chaw and he
was spitting. You know, you'd see him in the battle
when they did close up. But most of those guys
now are not smoking because they've figured out that you know,
that that it impacts their athletics ability and their earning ability.
I mean, there was a time when you know, Yustremsky
would sneak down into the runway to to to and
(25:52):
it never affected him his Hall of Fame baseball player.
But I'll bet his grandson, who plays for the Giants,
is in the smoker. I just think that we evolve
as as as a country, and I just think when you,
I don't know, there's just something about it that bothers me.
And I know that one of the arguments is that
the more people who end up with these horrific diseases
(26:15):
emphasis cancers and stuff, it puts a further burden on
our medical healthcare system, and we all somehow. I get
the arguments. I do get the arguments. But I know
that's that libertarian.
Speaker 10 (26:29):
Bill Russell in his book Bill Russell, he smoked, and
you know, before they went on to the game, it
was it was just pretty commonplace.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
Yeah, a lot of well I'm sure a lot of
them bought into that. That's gonna you know, chill me out,
relax me or whatever. But all right, Buck, I'll let
you go, my man. Always good to see you. I
was going to ask you what college you went to,
But how did those football teams do on saturdays?
Speaker 10 (26:53):
Well, it was the state college in North Carolina.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Okay, I can figure that out. I can figure pretty good.
Speaker 10 (27:00):
And and certainly, thank you for sharing about your dad.
I was very touched by all of that.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Thank you. I told that story. I've told that story before.
But he was a heavy two pack a day, I mean,
in two pack a day, you're talking about forty SIGs,
I mean, and.
Speaker 10 (27:14):
His service amazing, you know a lot of his ability
to cut it.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
That was the greatest generation.
Speaker 10 (27:20):
There's no question, no question about it.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
They say, no one who was hitting the beaches of
Normandy or who was fighting in World War two in
any capacity, was looking for comfort animals, right such thing. Hey,
thanks man, we'll talk to you. Thanks, Thank you, talk
to you tonight six one seven four ten thirty. There's
one line there, and there's one line at six one
(27:43):
seven nine three one ten thirty. Well, the five four
lines just this filled up. We may come back to
this later tonight at ten o'clock. We're going to talk
about that horrific loss of life in that assisted living
home in uh in fall Real, and we're going to
be talking with, amongst other one of the firefighters who
(28:03):
was there dealing with the rescues, and also the president
of the International Association of Firefighters happens to be union
leader Ed Kelly, who is a Boston native. So we'll
talk to them and we will finish out here with
at least John's going to get in. Priscilla and Billy,
you guys stay right there. I guarantee you we'll take
(28:24):
care of you. And if anyone wants to also jump
on board six thirty. Both of those lines are now open.
The others are full.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's News.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
Ready to go, all right, let's see where we're gonna go. Here,
We're gonna go next to John in reading. John, you
are next on nightside.
Speaker 5 (28:43):
Welcome, Hey Dan, how are you good, sir?
Speaker 3 (28:47):
What's going on? What's your take on all of this?
Speaker 5 (28:49):
So my take is, again, I'm a public health official,
and I think you and I had spoke back in
the days of COVID nineteen. We had had a brief
conversation about that issue. So here's my look. I'm a
public health guy. I'm all for taking tobacco products out
of the hands of kids and so, but the fundamental
(29:11):
issue that I have with this is this. So under
Massachusetts General Law, Chapter two seventy, section six, it basically
states that you know, it's prohibited to sell tobacco products
to children under the age of twenty one. Okay, okay.
So when these local communities that you had mentioned earlier
(29:32):
have developed these local regulations under local regulations for board
of healths under Chapter one eleven, section thirty one, it
says that local boards of health shall be able to
develop reasonable rules of regulations. To me, being a public
health official, this isn't a local board of health regulation.
This is prohibiting a person's right to choose. So you're
(29:56):
basically taking somebody civil liberties away from them when they
turn twenty one. Look again, I'll agree with everybody who's
commented before and after. I am all for taking tobacco
products out of the hands of kids. But again, so
you're telling a child who was born in two thousand
and six you cannot buy tobacco products after you've turned
(30:18):
twenty one. No matter where you are in life. However,
you can go across the street and you can buy
alcohol products, you can buy marijuana. You're required to vote,
You're required to you know, commit eligible to vote.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
You're not required to vote, but you're eligible to vote.
Speaker 5 (30:36):
You're elible to vote. But you know what I'm saying. Yeah,
So again, I look at Massachusetts law. I mean the
current Massachusetts law. Right now, you have seventeen communities that
you had mentioned that this dispending legislation is before the House.
You have seventeen communities that have signed on to this.
(30:57):
In order for this legislation to move forward, you need
half of the Commonwealth community. So you need one hundred
and eighty communities in order for this legislation to move forward.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
You only have well, well, no, no, you just need
state reps that this is in the legislature.
Speaker 5 (31:12):
No, but it is in the legislation, Dan, I believe me.
I've been following this being a public health official. The
legislation is you need one hundred and eighty communities. I
have been talking with Rep. Jason Lewis about this from Winchester.
You need one hundred and eighty communities to sign on
to this before it becomes law, before they move it forward.
(31:33):
Right now, you only have seventeen communities right now currently
in Massachusetts. Again, again, just give it my point of view.
I am all for you know, taking this out of
the hands of kids. I agree one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
I'm totally confused because my understanding and this is a
piece of legislation that passes in Massachusetts and it binds
every There are seventeen communities that have done this on
their own. But I believe that if this passes the
legislature a house in the Senate, and is signed by
(32:07):
the governor, it becomes a state wide law.
Speaker 5 (32:10):
My understanding is that you need one hundred and eighty
communities to sign on to it first understanding, But I
can be.
Speaker 3 (32:16):
Going to say you have I have seen nothing about that,
so I'm not going to dispute it with you, but
I don't want to confuse matters. I want to stay
with the the the issue at hand, Okay, And well
we'll get we'll get clarification on that as well. John,
I appreciate it. I got packed lines. I just want
to give everybody all right you, thank you, thank you, sir.
Let's go next to Priscilla in not a pan. Hi,
(32:37):
you were next on nightside.
Speaker 11 (32:39):
Yes, I think we should be able to make our
own decisions.
Speaker 3 (32:45):
Another libertarian all right.
Speaker 11 (32:48):
And there's a lot of kids that smoke weed, yes,
a lot, and they also vap a.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
Lot they do.
Speaker 11 (33:00):
I don't see a lot of I don't see a
lot of kids smoking cigarettes. They vape and they smoke
lots and lots of weed. Everywhere you walk outside, that's
all you smell is weed.
Speaker 3 (33:15):
I mean, I totally agree with you, and Priscilla, you've
you've said it, you know very well. I thank you
for being a listener to this program, and I thank
you for for the times you've called. I hope you'll
call more often. But I'm with you. For me, it's
kind of a cut and dried issue. Let let's let
adults make adult decisions.
Speaker 11 (33:35):
Yeah, but that's all I've been. You know, I can't see,
but I know the smell.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
Oh, I hear you too. Now it's a pungent smell,
no doubt about it. That's what they call a contact high. Priscilla,
Thank you much. People talk again. Be well, be well,
my friend you hey, have a great night. Let me
go to Bill and and Lexicon. Billy want to get
you in a couple more.
Speaker 12 (34:00):
Is it possible, Go ahead, Billy, Yeah, I'll make it quick.
So I was a tobacco farmers from North Carolina. We
did all my life growing up until you know it started.
You know they had about starting cancer. I meant, I
used to work with all j Reynolds, all those, all those.
I would say, if they're going to cut it off,
(34:20):
why don't they give people at least a chance to
live to twenty five. Then if you're over twenty five,
if you want to buy tobacco or whatever, fine, that
keeps it out of the hands of kids and give
them a chance to live. Now, I would say this,
if anybody has ever had a real piece of cured tobacco,
that we burn it, you know, before we take it
to the warehouse to sell it. They'll never have another
(34:42):
cigarette again in their life. It is the natchiest disgusting
thing you ever put in your mouth.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
I hear you. I totally hear you. You're absolutely on
the money there, Bill, Thank you. But how'd you end
up in Lexington, Massachusetts out of North Carolina?
Speaker 12 (35:01):
I had family to move up here. I was supposed
to went to San Francisco, but I ended up coming
up here because I asked family up here. My mother's
sister came up and she established a taxi company.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
And you, well, you're in the cradle of liberty in Lexington, Massachusetts,
that's for sure. Bill. Appreciate your call. Thank you much,
talking about have a great time. Okay, going to get it.
Try to get two in here real quickly. Let me
get to Tim and Woburn. Tim, can you give me
a break and be quick?
Speaker 7 (35:28):
Go right ahead, Tim, Hi, Dan, I smoke. Cigarette's no cigar,
there's no leave.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
Okay.
Speaker 7 (35:35):
Hey, a lot of people complain about the smoke. I
don't blame them, but I'm always working on loan, so
I'm not with anyone. But anyhow, Karen ree right, I
write the sun there fifty dollars by the twenty fourth
to Hawiway a legal piece.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
Okay, that's good, Tim, You've said that before, and I'm
sure that she's listening. She's gonna be pretty happy about that.
But I want to get us keep us back on this,
this question of for young kids. Thanks, thank you, Tim,
Talk soon, buddy.
Speaker 7 (36:04):
Thanks Dan.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
I have a great night. Betty in the boat. Bett,
you're gonna wrap it up for us here, go ahead, Betty.
Speaker 13 (36:09):
Well, I'm sad to say it's my body and I'll
do what I want with it, and that I was
recently handed a dual diagnosis of they cannot be treated.
And I've always lived my life believing that it was
(36:30):
my body and it was my decision to do what
I wanted. I did not smoke. I did not smoke.
I remember as a child sitting in a galvanized tub
of water in the backyards of New Hampshire with a
con cob wrapped up in newspaper, pretending that we were smoking.
(36:54):
I mean you're taught.
Speaker 3 (36:58):
Yeah, I hear you. I heard you. Please keep me
posted on your diagnoses here, and I hope you're in
a great medical capital. Hopefully things will work out, but
please keep us posted.
Speaker 5 (37:11):
Okay, well, I will.
Speaker 13 (37:13):
And the other Lammie is Maya. The boat cat died
And yesterday I brought home Ralph the boat cap and
she is a little girl and I named her Ralph.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
That's a good name. I have a great friend named Ralph.
And I'm she'll keep you young and she'll keep your helping.
Speaker 13 (37:39):
Will she will?
Speaker 3 (37:41):
But it gives you something to live for.
Speaker 13 (37:45):
Oh, it was horrible since lay second. But I can't
stress enough that if everybody follows the same road, will
all be fine. I lived a good life. I'm seventy
nine years old, not on any medications. I went for
a CT scan and came home. I'm saying, oh my.
Speaker 3 (38:09):
God, no, Well, let's miracles can happen. We can turn
things around. Please keep in touch.
Speaker 13 (38:15):
Please, I will, And I hope all as well with
you and your.
Speaker 12 (38:18):
Family so far, that's for sure.
Speaker 3 (38:20):
We're all going to have one of those days. But
stay strong, Betty, stay strong.
Speaker 8 (38:24):
Okay, I will.
Speaker 13 (38:25):
Thank Oh buzz, thank you, Yin.
Speaker 3 (38:27):
Thanks Betty. Good night. Well we get back when you
talk about that horrific fire that now is taking ten
lives in Fall River. On Sunday night, We're going to
talk with the head of the International Association of Firefighters,
Ed Kelly of Boston, as well as one of the
firefighters who was on scene on Sunday night,
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
All right, welcome back everybody, as we move into the
nine o'clock Iura, thank you very much, Dan Watkins, and
we are going to talk about an interesting proposal at
the state legislature.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
I don't have like strong strong feelings, but I'm going
to channel David Brednoy tonight, one of my predecessors here
in this eight to midnight slot on WBZ on Boston's
news radio. There is a piece of legislation which is
called the Nicotine Free Generation Bill, filed by a state
(00:43):
representative from Brookline, Tommy Vittolo, and a state Senator from Winchester,
Jason Lewis. And essentially it seems on the surface to
be a fairly simple proposal, and I think everybody will
understand the implications. This would outlaw the sale of any
tobacco products to anyone born after January first, two thousand
(01:06):
and six. So if you were born on January two,
two thousand and six, you cannot purchase legally and it
would not be able to purchase legally any tobacco products
here in Massachusetts. Now, I assume that that's going to
include not only cigarettes, but I assume it's going to
(01:29):
include cigars, chewing, tobacco, vaping. So that's why it's called
the nicotine Free Generation Policy. Now, I am not a smoker.
I despise the smell of cigarettes. If I'm walking down
the street and I catch a whiff of someone smoking
(01:52):
on a cigarette with a filter or without a filter,
it bothers me, to be really honest, because I assume
that there is secondhand smoke damage that all of us
at some point, those of us who are adults, and
particularly on the wrong side of fifty adults, of which
I count myself in that category. All of us probably
(02:16):
grew up in neighborhoods, particularly if you grew up in
Massachusetts in the fifty sixties seventies, just about every adult
seemed to smoke. And I never enjoyed being in a
room where people were smoking, whether it was a private house,
(02:39):
a home, or whether it was a restaurant. There was
a point in time not that long ago, and you
had people smoking in public restaurants, and then they had
they used to smoke on airplanes. You have to sit
up back if you're in the smoking section. So I
think we have come a long way in terms of
(03:00):
deciding what we want to do as a society. However, however,
this will have an impact because even though Massachusetts has
I guess, seventeen cities and towns which prevent band tobacco
and nicotine sales to anyone born after January first, two thousand,
(03:22):
which means if you were trying to buy tobacco products
in Belchertown, Chelsea, Conquered Conway, those are towns in Massachusetts Conway, Hopkinson, Maldon,
Manchester by the CEA, Melrose, Nam Newton, Pelham, Reading, Somerville,
Stone and Wakefield, and Winchester. You can't do You cannot
(03:43):
do that. You would have to be at this point.
Let's say it's twenty five, so you'd have to be
at least over the age of twenty five, and maybe
well over the age of twenty five. It's almost the
same as buying alcohol. Now, prohibition didn't work in this country,
and I would be very much opposed if we were
(04:04):
trying to be in beer and wine, which are my
drugs of choice, if you want to characterize them that way.
But on the one hand, we are pushing mightily to
make marijuana available and other drugs available. They're talking about,
(04:25):
you know, some of the plant based drugs. There's all
sorts of issues to open things up here in Massachusetts,
and yet tobacco we want to close down. Now. Is
tobacco good for you? I don't think so. I think
most doctors would tell you that if you smoke, you
(04:46):
are going to probably deal with some very difficult consequences
at some point in your life. And I realized that
there are people who don't smoke, like me, who will
also deal with some difficult consequences our lives. We all
will deal with that unless some night we go to
sleep and we die in our sleep. So but I
(05:07):
just don't like the idea of banning now. It just
seems to me that there will be an impact here,
obviously people who live in those communities if they're border communities,
and none of them really seem to be particularly border communities,
but there are some that are close to the border,
(05:28):
Manchester by the Sea that would seem to drive people
to New Hampshire of Vermont, or Connecticut or Rhode Island
where maybe those these bands are not in place. So
there is an economic impact and it does impact other people.
My feeling's pretty simple. If you're like me and you
don't want to smoke, don't smoke. If you're like me
(05:51):
and you want to be able to go to a
restaurant that is smoke free, go to whatever restaurant you
might you might like to smoke free. At the same time,
I think restaurants, some restaurants, if they want to have
a smoking section, and I'm not a smoker, they should.
You know where adults aren't we here in Massachusetts the
(06:11):
idea of the nanny state does it's maybe no one's
bothered by it anymore. I don't know. So I say
I'm sort of channeling David Brudnoi, who was a pipe
smoker and also a hardcore libertarian. I mean he was libertarian.
David was libertarian to the core in my in my recollection.
(06:31):
So I'd like to hear from you again. You may
not smoke, okay, but maybe there's something that you enjoy.
Maybe you enjoy candy, sweet chocolate, I do. Maybe you
enjoy ice cream. All of those items may have a
negative effect on your health. Might have an eat enough
(06:52):
ice cream, you're gonna have a weight problem. Then you're
gonna have to go to awake in one eighty. Yeah,
you should any Maybe, uh, maybe there'll be a push
sometime to eliminate alcohol or beer or wine. I just
think we live in America and if, for whatever reason,
(07:14):
you want to smoke, I will advise you don't do it.
But it's just something about the government telling me what
I can and cannot do as an adult that rubs
me the wrong way. Maybe there are no Libertarians left
in Massachusetts. Maybe you'll make an exception. I don't know.
I'd love to hear from you. Six one, seven, two, five,
(07:36):
four ten thirty six one seven, nine three one ten thirty.
Smoking is not good for you. I don't think that
there's a benefit. Some may try to call and tell
me there's a benefit. I'll listen, that's fine, But I
think on balance there's no benefit that offsets the dangers
that you put yourself in from smoking. But I think
(07:57):
we're intelligent people, and I think we should be able
to figure out that on our own without without having
to rely. Well, what does the government want me to do?
What does the state want me to do? Now, don't
go off me, and don't go off and tell me
that I'm saying there should be no speed limits. No,
I'm not saying that that. Of course, you have to
(08:19):
have speed limits for automobiles and for trucks and all
of that. But if you are dumb enough to smoke,
or you're I guess hooked on it, okay. I wonder
what they're going to do with the the new pot
shops that are going to be opening here in Massachusetts.
(08:41):
I'm looking for my freedom lovers, and I'm looking for
those who want to tell me that it is one
area that should not be allowed. Six one, seven, two, five, four,
ten thirty. Those lines are full. Six one, seven, nine, three,
one ten thirty. Got one line there. Bringing on all
points of view, welcome on this one. I don't think
there's a wrong position. I've taken my position for liberty
(09:03):
and individual freedom. I've tried to do that for the
most part for eighteen years, and I will continue to
do that as long as I am running this program.
Coming back on.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Nightside, You're on Night Side with Dan Ray on w
b Z, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
By the way, we did invite both of the sponsors,
the primary sponsors of this bill to join us tonight.
Representative Vetolo said that he had a prior commitment, which
is fine, and State Senator Lewis simply sent us a statement.
I'm not going to read it in its entirety, but
(09:40):
he said, this bill will not take away the right
to purchase nicotine and tobacco products from anyone who's already
legally able to do so. I get that. Rather, this
legislation will protect future generations who are being targeted by
big tobacco from the harms of smoking and create a
healthier world for the next generation. Okay, that same principal
(10:01):
could apply to big big alcohol. I think let me
go to Steve and Gambridge. Steve is a smoker, he's
a libertarian. I think I know what he's going to say.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
I'm not Dan, I'm not a complete libertarian, but I
am a smoker and I'm enjoying a cigar right now.
And these sponsors of the bill, they say they're doing
it for the kids. You know, they're always doing it
for the kids. Yes, but according to the FDA, the
(10:30):
teenage smoking rate is at a twenty five year low
and the vaping rate is at a ten year low,
So the kids are not If big tobacco is trying
to lure the kids, they're not succeeding.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Yeah, that's well, it's all. It's just I think it's
better for people to make good decisions on their own
as opposed to the nanny state making good decisions for them.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
Well, I mean, for example, according to the Cambridge Chronicle,
Tom Vitolo's father gained one hundred pounds when he quit smoking.
That's what Tom Betolo to the Cambridge Chronicle. I don't
know how good that was for his health.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Well, yeah, I guess, I don't know. Everybody has a
different experience. We're all the creatures of our own experience.
And if if his father saw the light of day.
My dad was a heavy smoker and he went cold
turkey in nineteen sixty four when the Surgeon General's report
came out.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
Really he was a man, I think I think he
was a camel man, wasn't he?
Speaker 3 (11:40):
Yes, he was unfiltered, And I would go to the store.
They give you a quarter, go buy buy me a
pack of camels. I'm ten years old going to the store. Hi,
missus maclory can have a pack of camels. Sure, here go.
Speaker 5 (11:53):
Damn.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
One more question though, but when your father quit cold turkey? Yes,
I mean the people who are sponsoring this bill say
it such a frightful addiction that it robs people of
their free will. When your father quit cold Turkey, I mean,
did he have delirium tremens or was he did Was
(12:15):
he unable to go to work? Did he have to
go into a detoc center or did he just quit?
And that was it?
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Didn't have to go even too a d tobacco center.
He read the Inspector General's report. Now he had smoked
because he was in the military during World War Two
when it was always smoking. If you got him and
the tobacco companies were giving tobacco, giving cigarettes to the
military to distribute to GIS. And look, you know he was.
(12:43):
He spent two and a half years in CBI China, Burnman, India,
which was not a great place to be circle nineteen
forty two, forty three, and forty four. But he did
his duty, came back. He was a heavy smoker. Search
and General's report. Come on, I think it was. I
could be wrong here. I think it was February of
sixty four, went cold Turkey. That was it. He was
(13:04):
a hard headed individual. I can add an ethnic stereotype
which would be of my own, but I'm not going to.
Speaker 4 (13:13):
Let's put it like that sounds like someone of whom
you can be very proud.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Yeah, in many many respects.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
Well, if he spent time over in that area of
the world during WW two, he deserves our thanks.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Yep. He used to talk about he wasn't a pilot,
but they would fly what they called over the Hump,
over the Himalayas. It was. It was an interesting way
to see a different part of the world. Let's let's
put it like that. Steve has always thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
Great to hear and thank you.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
Thank you, my friend. Talk to you soon. Let me
go to Joe in Belmont. Joe, I'm not sure how
are you going to come down on this? How are you? Joe?
Speaker 6 (13:50):
Good? And it's better to light the candle than the
curse of darkness?
Speaker 7 (13:54):
Yeah, and I want.
Speaker 6 (13:54):
To disagree with you.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
That's good, okay.
Speaker 6 (13:57):
I think this should be a federal law aid to
ban cigarettes for the common good, but no laws made
against sexual immorality.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
I don't know how you pull that one in here,
but that's okay. Do you think there should be a
law banning alcohol?
Speaker 6 (14:15):
Ah?
Speaker 3 (14:20):
No, okay, we tried that once.
Speaker 6 (14:22):
Because you suffer in chemo and radiation. If you have
lung cancer.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
This is true. This is true, but then you know,
not everybody who smokes gets lung cancer. What about just
the idea of making decisions for yourself? Do you like
that idea or is that one that you're just as
comfortable having the government make that idea for it?
Speaker 6 (14:43):
Well? As farrus Band in cigarettes for the Cormon good.
I'm for that, but I don't like the government interfering
with our freedoms either. I'm kind of both ways. Yeah,
we'll just happening.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
It's kind of a there's a little bit of freedom
that's some people would argue as being taken away from
people here. But I got you in there, Joe, and.
Speaker 6 (15:06):
I appreciate you call the common good Dan, Well.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Sometimes it's who defines the common good, Joe. That's the problem,
you know. I mean, well, some people, some people would
say for the common good this, and some people say
for the common good that. I understand the common good.
I get that, but I also, individually, I understand individual freedom.
God has given us a brain, given us free will.
I've never smoked a cigarette in my life, Joe. I
(15:32):
have no interest in it. I had enough secondhand smoke
from my dad when I was a kid. But that's
Dan right back at you, Joe. Thank you much, appreciate it,
Thank you all right, thank you. Let me go to
my friend Harvey Silverglade. I think I know where Harvey's
gonna come down.
Speaker 7 (15:47):
Hi, Harvey, how are you good?
Speaker 8 (15:51):
I am going as the son of a man who
died at the age of forty eight from four packs
of Campbell's today. Yeah, I will I will not quote
Dan Ray. I will quote the English philosopher John Stuart Mill.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
He's a good one too.
Speaker 8 (16:12):
So in eighteen fifty nine wrote an essay called on
Liberty and came up with the concept of self regarding conduct.
That people should be allowed to do anything that does
not harm somebody else, but they can do whatever they
(16:33):
want to themselves. And that's my that's my my basic principle.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
I think that's the basic principle of your life, Harvey.
And I think you've been very consistent and very you are.
You're a libertarian, and you're an absolutist in the First Amendment.
And I would I'm not surprised, and I certainly understand
quoting John Stuart Mill. There's no doubt about that. I
don't know how many members of the legislature. Have any
(17:07):
idea who John Stuart Mill was of the Master, the
Great and General Cord.
Speaker 8 (17:10):
Here chas idiot guy l L by the way, is
st U r.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Art, Yes? And John is j Ohm. Hey Harvey, as always,
thank you so much. We'll talk soon. Okay, my friend.
Thanks buddy. Here comes the nine thirty news. We're right
on time to three interesting phone calls to get us
started off. The only line open right now is six
one seven, two, five, four, ten thirty. So far all
(17:44):
the callers have been men ladies. I would hope that
if we're going to do a good survey of this audience,
we're going to get a representation of female callers as well.
On this point, six one seven, two, five, four ten
thirty six one seven, nine three one ten thirty. It's
easy to say being tobacco, band cigarettes, ban cigarette being
(18:05):
at all. Okay, I get that, But is that really
in a free society, the way in which we should
live our lives. I don't know. I know how I feel,
but I'm more interested in how you feel. Back on
Nightside right after this.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
It's Nightside, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
Back we go. Let me go to Gideon and Quincy. Gideon,
you're next to the nightside.
Speaker 9 (18:29):
Welcome, Hello, damn hell you good Gideon.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
What's your take on this?
Speaker 9 (18:34):
Good? Well, I'm definitely a libertarian, you know, I do
believe in personal freedom. Has a previous call is s
that if you want to do something and it doesn't
impact anyone else, I'm all for that. But the only
thing about smoking is it's so addictive. But I don't
(18:56):
think it is a choice once you're addicted.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
Well, nothing is a choice once you're addicted.
Speaker 9 (19:02):
Right, right, right, So I don't think you know, this
whole idea of well, we should be able to do
what she wants, what we want, and if I want
to smoke, I should be able to smoke. But what
about if you're addicted, then it's then it's it's more
like you're not making a choice at that point, and
it's it's the fact that it's so addictive. And I
(19:25):
had a friend, her name is Michelle, and she she
had COPD, so she had breathing issues, and she was
living in my building for a while and she had
to leave because she simply could not stop smoking. It
was a no smoking building and she literally had to go.
(19:47):
And I said, Michelle, you know, all you've got to
do is not smoke, and you can stay here. And
she said, I can't stop getting I've been smoking since
I was fourteen years old. I can't stop.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
I understand that. But but but apply that theory, which
is a legitimate theory, apply that theory to alcohol get in.
Do we also want.
Speaker 9 (20:11):
Well, as you said, we tried that.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
No, we did.
Speaker 9 (20:14):
I'm an alcoholic. I'm an alcoholic. I'm in recovery. You know,
I don't drink anymore. I had to stop.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
Okay, So, but but we tried that one hundred years ago,
and now it's one hundred years later, and we were
in the middle of prohibition one hundred years ago, and
it just seems to be where do you draw the line. Look,
there are people who are addicted to candy. I arguably
am addicted to chocolate. I think if chocolate were made illegal,
(20:41):
I would be buying it on the black market and
I would be in jail.
Speaker 9 (20:46):
I mean, your points taken, It's not an easy question.
Speaker 8 (20:49):
I don't know.
Speaker 9 (20:50):
I mean, I can't say that anyone should be able
to say you can't smoke, you know, if you don't
want to do that. But it's just the fact that
when when cigarettes first came out, they were giving them
out for free, right they had, you know, these young
young girls giving out cigarettes for free. And I don't
(21:10):
think people knew.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Well, I think cigarettes and tobacco gideon been around a
long time. They were giving it out free, giving out
cigarettes free to US military personnel in World War Two.
Speaker 8 (21:22):
I know that.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
And then they were giving out little candy cigarettes that
was stopped to kids. I remember candy cigarettes. So, I mean,
obviously it's a tough question, and I respect people on
both sides, but if you do it to tobacco, what
(21:44):
about going back to alcohol? What about candy?
Speaker 9 (21:46):
I mean, you know, it's not a simple it's not
a simple question. But the other thing is, I guess
because they're not saying, we're not saying anyone now who's
smoking has to stop. We're just saying for the you know,
for the kids who are growing up, anyone want to
(22:09):
not be able to buy.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
Them anyone born after January first, two thousand and six.
So hey, we'll say, yeah, all right, Hey. I enjoyed.
I enjoyed our conversation. It was thoughtful and it was
from the heart, which is the best conversations we can have.
Speaker 10 (22:26):
Thank you, You're welcome.
Speaker 9 (22:28):
What was the pleasure?
Speaker 3 (22:29):
Thank please call again. Thank you very much. Let me
go to Buck in Gloucester. Buck you next on night side.
Speaker 10 (22:35):
Well, I'll tell you from the heart. It was beautiful
to hear about your father. And I'm not surprised You're
such a great man. So I like what you are articulated.
But I like the idea that it makes young people
just think about the gravity of smoking because they have
that prohibition stated okay, but there's the uniqueness for me.
(22:58):
In the eighties, I was in New York and I
think I shot the last tobacco commercial and it was
for it was it was for Redman Chewing tobacco, okay.
And in the first scene, Dan, I'm sitting there looking
over my land, and they gave me the real tobacco
to put in my mouth, right, And I don't smoke
(23:20):
and I don't drink, right And Dan, after that was
was shot, I stood up and I almost fainted the
nicotine and the sugar in it. Right. But I like
what you said also about not liking cigarette smoke. But
interesting enough, cigar smoking I like because of association with
(23:45):
my paternal grandfather in Maryland and yeah, yeah, and listen
to this. I've never done marijuana at all, but I
was in a I was in an athletic dorm at
my college, and the football players would really get into
the marijuana on Friday. So smelling marijuana reminds me of Friday.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Wait before the game on Saturday, they're getting.
Speaker 10 (24:10):
Stoned, Yes, sir, maybe, yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
I would think that maybe Saturday night they might be
inbibing a little bit.
Speaker 10 (24:17):
But you would think that, well, you to make it
through the week. And they did it right at the
end of the day. And that was the association. And
another thing in my experience. My mother was from Winston
Salem Tobacco Road, and it was a whole different Uh yeah,
mindset down there. I remember my older grand my older
(24:39):
uncle said to my youngest uncle he was smoking bantage,
you know, and my older uncle said, you're not smoking
you know what I mean? It was it was so interesting,
but uh yeah, I liked the idea. But I do
like the libertarian kind of you know, philosophy. But but
I think it's good if kids see I got to
(25:02):
wait till this point, you know, Okay, Well I would.
Speaker 3 (25:04):
Think that, look, I can tell you this that when
you and I were growing up, Yeah, most major League
baseball players, Nellie Fox and others had a jar of
tobacco in the bill tuttle, okay, And I think there
were a lot of kids who probably looked at those
roll bottles. I know that Devors would always be be
(25:29):
chewing some He had some sort of chaw and he
was spitting. You know, you'd see him in the battle
when they did close up. But most of those guys
now are not smoking because they've figured out that you know,
that that it impacts their athletics ability and their earning ability.
I mean, there was a time when you know, Yustremsky
would sneak down into the runway to to to and
(25:52):
it never affected him his Hall of Fame baseball player.
But I'll bet his grandson, who plays for the Giants,
is in the smoker. I just think that we evolve
as as as a country, and I just think when you,
I don't know, there's just something about it that bothers me.
And I know that one of the arguments is that
the more people who end up with these horrific diseases
(26:15):
emphasis cancers and stuff, it puts a further burden on
our medical healthcare system, and we all somehow. I get
the arguments. I do get the arguments. But I know
that's that libertarian.
Speaker 10 (26:29):
Bill Russell in his book Bill Russell, he smoked, and
you know, before they went on to the game, it
was it was just pretty commonplace.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
Yeah, a lot of well I'm sure a lot of
them bought into that. That's gonna you know, chill me out,
relax me or whatever. But all right, Buck, I'll let
you go, my man. Always good to see you. I
was going to ask you what college you went to,
But how did those football teams do on saturdays?
Speaker 10 (26:53):
Well, it was the state college in North Carolina.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Okay, I can figure that out. I can figure pretty good.
Speaker 10 (27:00):
And and certainly, thank you for sharing about your dad.
I was very touched by all of that.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Thank you. I told that story. I've told that story before.
But he was a heavy two pack a day, I mean,
in two pack a day, you're talking about forty SIGs,
I mean, and.
Speaker 10 (27:14):
His service amazing, you know a lot of his ability
to cut it.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
That was the greatest generation.
Speaker 10 (27:20):
There's no question, no question about it.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
They say, no one who was hitting the beaches of
Normandy or who was fighting in World War two in
any capacity, was looking for comfort animals, right such thing. Hey,
thanks man, we'll talk to you. Thanks, Thank you, talk
to you tonight six one seven four ten thirty. There's
one line there, and there's one line at six one
(27:43):
seven nine three one ten thirty. Well, the five four
lines just this filled up. We may come back to
this later tonight at ten o'clock. We're going to talk
about that horrific loss of life in that assisted living
home in uh in fall Real, and we're going to
be talking with, amongst other one of the firefighters who
(28:03):
was there dealing with the rescues, and also the president
of the International Association of Firefighters happens to be union
leader Ed Kelly, who is a Boston native. So we'll
talk to them and we will finish out here with
at least John's going to get in. Priscilla and Billy,
you guys stay right there. I guarantee you we'll take
(28:24):
care of you. And if anyone wants to also jump
on board six thirty. Both of those lines are now open.
The others are full.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's News.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
Ready to go, all right, let's see where we're gonna go. Here,
We're gonna go next to John in reading. John, you
are next on nightside.
Speaker 5 (28:43):
Welcome, Hey Dan, how are you good, sir?
Speaker 3 (28:47):
What's going on? What's your take on all of this?
Speaker 5 (28:49):
So my take is, again, I'm a public health official,
and I think you and I had spoke back in
the days of COVID nineteen. We had had a brief
conversation about that issue. So here's my look. I'm a
public health guy. I'm all for taking tobacco products out
of the hands of kids and so, but the fundamental
(29:11):
issue that I have with this is this. So under
Massachusetts General Law, Chapter two seventy, section six, it basically
states that you know, it's prohibited to sell tobacco products
to children under the age of twenty one. Okay, okay.
So when these local communities that you had mentioned earlier
(29:32):
have developed these local regulations under local regulations for board
of healths under Chapter one eleven, section thirty one, it
says that local boards of health shall be able to
develop reasonable rules of regulations. To me, being a public
health official, this isn't a local board of health regulation.
This is prohibiting a person's right to choose. So you're
(29:56):
basically taking somebody civil liberties away from them when they
turn twenty one. Look again, I'll agree with everybody who's
commented before and after. I am all for taking tobacco
products out of the hands of kids. But again, so
you're telling a child who was born in two thousand
and six you cannot buy tobacco products after you've turned
(30:18):
twenty one. No matter where you are in life. However,
you can go across the street and you can buy
alcohol products, you can buy marijuana. You're required to vote,
You're required to you know, commit eligible to vote.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
You're not required to vote, but you're eligible to vote.
Speaker 5 (30:36):
You're elible to vote. But you know what I'm saying. Yeah,
So again, I look at Massachusetts law. I mean the
current Massachusetts law. Right now, you have seventeen communities that
you had mentioned that this dispending legislation is before the House.
You have seventeen communities that have signed on to this.
(30:57):
In order for this legislation to move forward, you need
half of the Commonwealth community. So you need one hundred
and eighty communities in order for this legislation to move forward.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
You only have well, well, no, no, you just need
state reps that this is in the legislature.
Speaker 5 (31:12):
No, but it is in the legislation, Dan, I believe me.
I've been following this being a public health official. The
legislation is you need one hundred and eighty communities. I
have been talking with Rep. Jason Lewis about this from Winchester.
You need one hundred and eighty communities to sign on
to this before it becomes law, before they move it forward.
(31:33):
Right now, you only have seventeen communities right now currently
in Massachusetts. Again, again, just give it my point of view.
I am all for you know, taking this out of
the hands of kids. I agree one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
I'm totally confused because my understanding and this is a
piece of legislation that passes in Massachusetts and it binds
every There are seventeen communities that have done this on
their own. But I believe that if this passes the
legislature a house in the Senate, and is signed by
(32:07):
the governor, it becomes a state wide law.
Speaker 5 (32:10):
My understanding is that you need one hundred and eighty
communities to sign on to it first understanding, But I
can be.
Speaker 3 (32:16):
Going to say you have I have seen nothing about that,
so I'm not going to dispute it with you, but
I don't want to confuse matters. I want to stay
with the the the issue at hand, Okay, And well
we'll get we'll get clarification on that as well. John,
I appreciate it. I got packed lines. I just want
to give everybody all right you, thank you, thank you, sir.
Let's go next to Priscilla in not a pan. Hi,
(32:37):
you were next on nightside.
Speaker 11 (32:39):
Yes, I think we should be able to make our
own decisions.
Speaker 3 (32:45):
Another libertarian all right.
Speaker 11 (32:48):
And there's a lot of kids that smoke weed, yes,
a lot, and they also vap a.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
Lot they do.
Speaker 11 (33:00):
I don't see a lot of I don't see a
lot of kids smoking cigarettes. They vape and they smoke
lots and lots of weed. Everywhere you walk outside, that's
all you smell is weed.
Speaker 3 (33:15):
I mean, I totally agree with you, and Priscilla, you've
you've said it, you know very well. I thank you
for being a listener to this program, and I thank
you for for the times you've called. I hope you'll
call more often. But I'm with you. For me, it's
kind of a cut and dried issue. Let let's let
adults make adult decisions.
Speaker 11 (33:35):
Yeah, but that's all I've been. You know, I can't see,
but I know the smell.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
Oh, I hear you too. Now it's a pungent smell,
no doubt about it. That's what they call a contact high. Priscilla,
Thank you much. People talk again. Be well, be well,
my friend you hey, have a great night. Let me
go to Bill and and Lexicon. Billy want to get
you in a couple more.
Speaker 12 (34:00):
Is it possible, Go ahead, Billy, Yeah, I'll make it quick.
So I was a tobacco farmers from North Carolina. We
did all my life growing up until you know it started.
You know they had about starting cancer. I meant, I
used to work with all j Reynolds, all those, all those.
I would say, if they're going to cut it off,
(34:20):
why don't they give people at least a chance to
live to twenty five. Then if you're over twenty five,
if you want to buy tobacco or whatever, fine, that
keeps it out of the hands of kids and give
them a chance to live. Now, I would say this,
if anybody has ever had a real piece of cured tobacco,
that we burn it, you know, before we take it
to the warehouse to sell it. They'll never have another
(34:42):
cigarette again in their life. It is the natchiest disgusting
thing you ever put in your mouth.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
I hear you. I totally hear you. You're absolutely on
the money there, Bill, Thank you. But how'd you end
up in Lexington, Massachusetts out of North Carolina?
Speaker 12 (35:01):
I had family to move up here. I was supposed
to went to San Francisco, but I ended up coming
up here because I asked family up here. My mother's
sister came up and she established a taxi company.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
And you, well, you're in the cradle of liberty in Lexington, Massachusetts,
that's for sure. Bill. Appreciate your call. Thank you much,
talking about have a great time. Okay, going to get it.
Try to get two in here real quickly. Let me
get to Tim and Woburn. Tim, can you give me
a break and be quick?
Speaker 7 (35:28):
Go right ahead, Tim, Hi, Dan, I smoke. Cigarette's no cigar,
there's no leave.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
Okay.
Speaker 7 (35:35):
Hey, a lot of people complain about the smoke. I
don't blame them, but I'm always working on loan, so
I'm not with anyone. But anyhow, Karen ree right, I
write the sun there fifty dollars by the twenty fourth
to Hawiway a legal piece.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
Okay, that's good, Tim, You've said that before, and I'm
sure that she's listening. She's gonna be pretty happy about that.
But I want to get us keep us back on this,
this question of for young kids. Thanks, thank you, Tim,
Talk soon, buddy.
Speaker 7 (36:04):
Thanks Dan.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
I have a great night. Betty in the boat. Bett,
you're gonna wrap it up for us here, go ahead, Betty.
Speaker 13 (36:09):
Well, I'm sad to say it's my body and I'll
do what I want with it, and that I was
recently handed a dual diagnosis of they cannot be treated.
And I've always lived my life believing that it was
(36:30):
my body and it was my decision to do what
I wanted. I did not smoke. I did not smoke.
I remember as a child sitting in a galvanized tub
of water in the backyards of New Hampshire with a
con cob wrapped up in newspaper, pretending that we were smoking.
(36:54):
I mean you're taught.
Speaker 3 (36:58):
Yeah, I hear you. I heard you. Please keep me
posted on your diagnoses here, and I hope you're in
a great medical capital. Hopefully things will work out, but
please keep us posted.
Speaker 5 (37:11):
Okay, well, I will.
Speaker 13 (37:13):
And the other Lammie is Maya. The boat cat died
And yesterday I brought home Ralph the boat cap and
she is a little girl and I named her Ralph.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
That's a good name. I have a great friend named Ralph.
And I'm she'll keep you young and she'll keep your helping.
Speaker 13 (37:39):
Will she will?
Speaker 3 (37:41):
But it gives you something to live for.
Speaker 13 (37:45):
Oh, it was horrible since lay second. But I can't
stress enough that if everybody follows the same road, will
all be fine. I lived a good life. I'm seventy
nine years old, not on any medications. I went for
a CT scan and came home. I'm saying, oh my.
Speaker 3 (38:09):
God, no, Well, let's miracles can happen. We can turn
things around. Please keep in touch.
Speaker 13 (38:15):
Please, I will, And I hope all as well with
you and your.
Speaker 12 (38:18):
Family so far, that's for sure.
Speaker 3 (38:20):
We're all going to have one of those days. But
stay strong, Betty, stay strong.
Speaker 8 (38:24):
Okay, I will.
Speaker 13 (38:25):
Thank Oh buzz, thank you, Yin.
Speaker 3 (38:27):
Thanks Betty. Good night. Well we get back when you
talk about that horrific fire that now is taking ten
lives in Fall River. On Sunday night, We're going to
talk with the head of the International Association of Firefighters,
Ed Kelly of Boston, as well as one of the
firefighters who was on scene on Sunday night,
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