Altria Group, Philip Morris USA's parent company, will soon be marketing marlboro Snus, a smokeless, spitless tobacco pouch that you insert under your lip. These so-called "tobacco teabags" are supposedly the healthier, cleaner alternative to smoking despite the fact that they seem to increase your likelihood of developing pancreatic cancer. But they must be a brand naming headache. Marlboro Snus (pronounced “snoose”), just do not offer the same imagery as that personified by the marlboro cigarettes Man, who, let’s face it, is all about traditional cigarettes. Maybe the new ads will show a bunch of sleeping cowboys around a campfire? SnusThe word “snus”, which reminds me of the dirtier, unhealthier cousins of the smurfs, sounds suspiciously kid friendly, too. I seem to recall a similarly named cartoon character from my youth called Shmoo who, interestingly, looks like a ghost (like so many other tobacco users are now, including both marlboro men). But maybe I am over-analyzing this association. However, I do wonder if he Snus product name is designed for the age group that doesn’t want to get busted Marlboro cigarettes in the bathroom.