Cody Carden

Maldives Adopts World’s Only National Nicotine-Free Generation Policy

By Cody Carden / November 10, 2025

The Maldives, a tiny island nation located in the Indian Ocean, became the world’s first country to implement a Nicotine-Free Generation (NFG) policy on November 1st.  In adopting the policy,…

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Thank You to Our TAA Supporters and Great American Cigar Shops

By Cody Carden / November 6, 2025

Cigar Rights of America extends our thanks to the generous donors who contributed during the recent Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA) Annual Meeting. Your support directly strengthens our mission to…

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The Cigar Industry Under Attack: California UTL and USTR 301

By Cody Carden / October 28, 2025

The premium cigar industry is facing two distinct and severe threats that, together, represent the most significant challenge to the premium cigar business in a generation. On one front, a…

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Total Tobacco Ban in Tiburon Signals Sweeping Shift in U.S. Regulation

By Cody Carden / October 26, 2025

The regulatory ground is shifting for the tobacco industry. On October 16th, the Town Council of Tiburon, California, voted unanimously on the first reading of an ordinance that proposes an…

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South Hadley, Massachusetts Board of Health Adopts Restrictive Tobacco Policy

By Cody Carden / October 16, 2025

On October 15th, the South Hadley Board of Health became the latest Massachusetts municipality to adopt a Nicotine Free Generation (NFG) policy. In a unanimous vote following a contentious public…

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The Failure to Adapt: How the WHO Is ‘Poisoning Good Science’—and What’s at Stake for Premium Cigars

By Cody Carden / October 14, 2025

At a global forum in Brussels, Clive Bates, Director of Counterfactual and a longtime public health advocate, delivered a blunt warning: the World Health Organization’s approach to tobacco control is…

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CRA and SBA Advocacy Challenge Economic and Regulatory Impact of FDA’s Nicotine Rule

By Cody Carden / October 14, 2025

On January 15, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register titled “Tobacco Product Standard for Nicotine Yield of Cigarettes and Certain…

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Mexico’s “Healthy Tax” Proposal Targets Tobacco With Sharp Increases

By Cody Carden / September 29, 2025

This month, Mexico’s Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit proposed sweeping tax increases on products deemed harmful or unhealthy. This proposal includes significant tax hikes on tobacco products as part…

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Cigar Rights of America Urges Delay of California’s Unflavored Tobacco List Deadline

By Cody Carden / September 29, 2025

On September 23rd, Cigar Rights of America (CRA) formally requested a delay in the rollout of California’s Unflavored Tobacco List (UTL) in a letter to the Attorney General. In the…

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CRA Seeks Clarity on ‘Rushed’ UTL Regulations; Urges DOJ to Delay Deadline

By Cody Carden / September 26, 2025

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA (September 23, 2025) – Today, Cigar Rights of America (CRA) sent a letter to the Office of the Attorney General of California (AG) regarding the Department of Justice’s (DOJ)…

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