Premium Cigar News and Notes

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May 02

Unintended Consequences Threatens Public Health Amidst Regulatory Efforts

Despite concerted global efforts to curb tobacco use through regulatory policies, the proliferation of illicit tobacco products via underground markets presents a significant challenge to public health and law enforcement…

May 02

Vermont’s S.18 & Maine’s LD 1215: Premium Cigars and the Flavored Tobacco Debate

On January 18, 2023, Vermont State Senator Virginia Lyons proposed Senate Bill 18 (S.18), which would eliminate flavored tobacco products in the state. The bill’s preamble highlighted the detrimental effects…

May 02

Massachusetts’ Generational Tobacco Bans Continue To Spread

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently upheld a significant bylaw enacted in Brookline, Massachusetts, known as a generational tobacco ban. This groundbreaking regulation prohibits the sale of tobacco products to…

Apr 17

CRA Files Reply Brief In U.S. Court of Appeals

On Monday, April 15th, Cigar Rights of America (CRA), filed the industry’s reply brief in response to the United States Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) appeal in Cigar Association of America, Cigar…

Apr 17

The Imperative of Tax Caps for Premium Cigars

When it comes to state taxation policies, few industries face as much scrutiny and inconsistency as premium cigars. As lawmakers grapple with budgetary constraints and revenue generation, the cigar industry…

Mar 27

The Impact of a New Trump Administration’s Policy on Agencies

By Mike Copperman President Biden and former President Donald Trump have secured the necessary number of delegates to clinch their party’s presidential nomination, paving the way for the inevitable rematch…

Cigar News

November 16, 2021

Washington, DC: Earlier this month, the Congressional Cigar Caucus Caucus was approved as a Congressional Member Organization, better known as a caucus. The effort is being led by Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., who is serving as the chairperson, and Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., who will serve as as the vice chairperson.

November 15, 2021

Colorado: While a Denver City Council committee will soon vote on a proposed flavored tobacco and vaping products ban, hookah lounges and premium cigars are no longer on the chopping block.

November 15, 2021

Florida: Preservationists upset by Bartow vote to demolish Polk County's only historic cigar factory

November 5, 2021

Michigan: A major victory took place yesterday morning just before 10 am in the Great Lake state when governor Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 4485, which preserves Michigan’s 50-cent state tobacco tax cap into permanence. The cap will help keep cigar prices low in Michigan, and can save them a few dollars on each cigar they buy.

November 1, 2021

Florida: A line of cigar and whisky aficionados stretched from the opening doors of the ballroom all the way through to the casino at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Each person held a custom Cigar Aficionado tote bag in their hand, ready to make their rounds to gather more than 20 cigars directly from the people who made them.

October 25, 2021

Florida: It is difficult to tell a Key West or a Key Largo story without telling a Florida Keys story. What time has done is produce a system of historical roots that connect one island to another.

October 22, 2021

Washington, DC: 1865 ‘Steak Seafood Cigars’ coming to historic “Billy Simpson’s House of Steak and Seafood” (also the old Chez Billy/Ten Tigers) space in Petworth

October 22, 2021

Utah: Tobacco Seeds Discovered Among Stone Age Ruins. The use of tobacco by humans goes back much farther in history than previously thought.

September 7, 2021

Cigar Rights of America (CRA) is the first and only grassroots, consumer-based public advocacy group fighting to protect cigar enthusiasts’ rights. The group focuses on updating the community, shop owners and manufacturers in real-time about bills, taxes and legislation that may impede the right to enjoy premium cigars.

The Take Action page on CigarRights.org allows people to quickly and easily reach out to their local, state and federal government officials to support and oppose these bills, tax changes and legislation.

Want to get involved? Simply click on the causes close to you and follow the on-screen steps to email your designated officials and share with your community on social media. Email templates are pre-populated, but individual edits are encouraged so individuals can share their thoughts.

“Being able to update cigar enthusiasts about how they can take action and advocate for their cigar rights is why CRA was created,” says Cody Carden, CRA government and regulation specialist and director of communication. “We need to join together in this fight to protect what we enjoy and the way of life for many in this nation.”

CRA encourages activism through lobbying and grassroots support. So far, CRA has stopped hundreds of pieces of legislation and has delayed more than $110 million in regulatory costs, and they’re not stopping there.

Click here to learn how you can take action today.