Cigarettes for the Troops: Ship 'Em if You've Got 'Em

The U.S. Postal Service has found a way for people to legally ship cigarettes to military service members posted overseas.

Ed O'Keefe reports that on June 29, a new law went into effect that prohibited friends and family members of deployed troops from sending cigarettes in care packages through first class mail. (The measure was aimed at curbing cigarette trafficking; the effect on the troops was unintended.)

The Postal Service initially said customers could use Express Mail to ship cigarettes, but Express Mail doesn't ship overseas. So starting Aug. 27, USPS is allowing care packages including tobacco products to be sent via Priority Mail, which does go to military addresses overseas.