Today, the state Senate of California passed six new anti-tobacco bills which will not move to the Assembly for consideration. The 6 bills were heavily debated and some language that was used is scary for smokers.
Those measures that apply to cigar smokers include raising the smoking age in California from 18 to 21. Other measures included allowed counties to impose an additional tobacco tax and the increase the fee for a license that tobacco retailers are required by law to carry.
While most Republicans voted against the measures, the language used be Senator Joel Anderson (R-San Diego) is scary. The Los Angeles Times attributes a quote to him in which he stated he was against the piecemeal restrictions and implied that the state should just ban the product altogether if that is what they are after.
The bill to raise the tobacco age has passed the Senate for the second time in three months. In June it failed to pass the Assembly.
Meanwhile, another bill approved on Thursday would allow the state to charge $265 yearly for a license fee to tobacco retailers. Currently retailers pay a one time fee of $100. The fee would be on top of the existing annual licensing fee which calls for a raise from $1000 to $1200.
The Cigar Authority will be keeping an eye on these new measures.
