As I said, I hope you are correct, although I think you've seriously downplayed the costs of jumping into the marketplace. You've overlooked simple things like packaging, sales, labor, and marketing costs. It's considerably more than tobacco leaves and a piece of paper. Sure doctors know all about the benefits of VLN but how does that translate into sales without hiring reps or sponsoring conferences?
Esad, I agree that we're range bound for the foreseeable future. That's why I've become short term bearish but remain long term bullish. I think money can be put to better use elsewhere for the time being. It might turn out to be a great place to continue selling short expiration $3 calls.
I don't believe in a mandate any time soon because there's lately been a lot of emphasis on the free market and not being a nanny state. We are in a situation where climate change is officially denied and environmental laws that protect health and lives are being scrapped. I don't see this as a time when concern for public health is paramount, maybe in a couple of years. Corporations are people, my friends.