On Friday August 29th the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that allowing smoking in cigar bars and tobacco shops is an unconstitutional special legislation. The court which was divided stated in their ruling, “here is no substantial difference in circumstances between cigar bars and other public places or places of employment that justifies treating cigars bars differently. The judges added, “The purpose of the 2008 Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act is to protect the public health […]
Before Hammer + Sickle got into the cigar business they were in the spirits business. Hammer + Sickle Vodka begins their process in the Black Earth region of central Russia where arctic temperatures produce an excellent crop. Every spring the wheat is harvested and shipped to their distillery in Klin where small batches of ultra smooth vodka are created. With the addition of Ginger Beer with lime to their arsenal the ingredients for a Moscow Mule […]
Original Story: Aug 13th. Kokomo, no not the locale made famous by the Beach Boys. Kokomo, IN. The Kokomo Common Council unveiled a draft of a smoke-free ordinance that would ban smoking in all enclosed public places. The draft was presented to the council Monday and removes the current exemption for tobacco outlets, bars, taverns and fraternal organizations. It also includes a ban for E-cigarettes. The committee will meet again on Monday to discuss amendments to […]
Perhaps one of the most talked about releases at IPCPR was the Padron 50th Anniversary which will be presented in a gorgeous humidor and released in early December. However, the 50 Years Family Reserve by Padron has hit the shelves, perhaps earlier then expected. Site sponsor Two Guys Smoke Shop, received their order today. In honor of Jose Padron opening his first shop 50 years ago today on September 8th, 1964 in Little Havana a section […]
The city of Foster City, CA has drafted an amendment to an ordinance dealing with second-hand smoke. The amendment would ban smoking in all rental apartment complexes and requite those who own their own condominiums or townhouses to only smoke indoors with the windows closed. A clause was added to revisit the rule after six months of implementation. According to The Daily Journal, 64% of the residents of Foster City, California live in multifamily housing. […]
On Wednesday the park district board of Chicago is set to vote on a proposal that will ban smoking in any of Chicago’s parks or harbors. There is already a ban at beaches, park district buildings and playgrounds. If approved the violation would carry a $500 fine. The Chicago Park District is the oldest and largest park district in the U.S.A, with a $385 million annual budget.
Close to the one year anniversary of Councilman Michael Harris’ failed bid for a smoking ban in the downtown smoking district, the Councilman is set to bring the proposal back to the table. Harris and fellow Councilman Ken Carlson have asked their colleagues to draft an ordinance that would ban smoking downtown. The council is scheduled to meet and discuss the proposal at 7:30pm tonight (Sep. 8th) at City Hall. Councilman Carlson is a smoker, […]
This past Friday, the Cigar Association of New Hampshire (C.A.N.H.) had its annual golf tournament to raise money to help fight growing legislation against the industry. The Cigar Association of New Hampshire brings together the top shops of New Hampshire, which helps keep the state tax-free on tobacco, and allowing liquor licenses in cigar bars. Without the united front they could face many of the issues that happen all to often around the world. The event […]
I’ve long considered Jose Blanco to be not only my friend, but to a degree my mentor. We email each other on a regular basis, and he has always been there for me with words of support. In fact, it was Jose Blanco that gave me my first lesson on tobacco that went above and beyond his renowned tasting seminar. Today’s cigar is the freshman release from the Jose Blanco owned Los Cumbres Tobacco. The […]
On Thursday, Democrat Governor of Kentucky, Steve Beshear signed an executive order that expands on a 2006 ban on smoking inside state buildings. The new expanded version of the law includes surrounding property such as sidewalks and parking lots. It also applies to all state vehicles. “No longer will you have to walk through a cloud of smoke to enter one of these buildings,” Beshear said. “Today’s policy is about improving our health.” The order […]