The state of Utah was looking to become the second state in the nation to raise the tobacco purchase from 18 to 21, but legislators defeated the attempt today in the Beehive State. The bill which was sponsored by Republican Representative Kraig Power of Heber City was defeated thanks to members such as Ken Ivory a Republican from West Jordan who according to the Salt Lake Tribune stated that he was concerned with the government getting […]
As the cigar industry waits for the FDA ruling on cigars, some new information has come out about some of the things that the FDA will be looking at when it comes to regulation. On February 22, 2016, the FDA announced that they were seeking to purchase a Cigar Smoking Machine with CO Analyzer. According to the document, they are seeking a smoking machine capable of smoking a 22.5mm cigar which would be between a 57 and […]
Each Friday we take a look at new legislation on a local or state level.. This is what is happening this week…. Alaska – Governor Bill Walker has introduced HB304 that would raise the tobacco tax within the state. The current tax is 75% of the wholesale price and the new proposal would change it to 100% of the wholesale cost. Currently a cigar that has an MSRP of $10.00 in the state costs $13.75, under the […]
If first you don’t succeed, waste the tax payers money and try again seems to be the motto in many states. This time around it applies to Rhode Island who last year attempted a similar measure to raise the age for tobacco purchases. This time around the bill has been introduced by Representative Teresa Tanzi (D-34th District) and Senator Cynthia A. Coyne (D-32nd District). The legislation would raise the minimum age to purchase all tobacco […]
There are many in the cigar industry that felt the FDA regulations on cigars would not be announced until a new leader of the FDA was named. According to a report on Reuters, the United States Senate is close to confirming the next leader of the Food & Drug Administration despite an opposition from several senators and a Presidential candidate. On Monday the Senate voted 80-6 in favor of limiting debate on the matter to […]
Each Friday we take a look at new legislation on a local or state level.. This is what is happening this week…. Ohio – The Maumee City Council voted 5-2 favor of asking the Code Committee about the legality of raising the age to posses, purchase r sell tobacco from 18 to 21. Recently the Mayor, Rich Carr asked the council to raise the smoking age. Maumee is located just southwest of Toledo. New York […]
Ever since Hawaii became the first state to raise the tobacco purchase age to 21; numerous states have looked to follow suit. Thankfully all have failed, but Illinois State Senate John Mulroe, D-Chicago hasn’t let that stop him. The senator introduced SB3011 which puts the state in the running to become the second state. If the measure passes it would carry with it fines starting at $50 and 25 hours of community service for those who sell […]
Each week we list all the legislation in one easy to find place. This week brings stories from California, Kansas, Mississippi, New York and Oregon. California – You can add Palo Alto to the list of cities looking to pursue a smoking ban with the City Council approving the pursuit of a measure to raise the tobacco age to 21. A hearing is scheduled in the coming weeks. Kansas – You can now add Iola, […]
What a difference a day makes, or in this case two days. The Chicago City Council’s Finance Committee voted 22-9 to approve an amended tobacco ordinance that had previously failed only days prior. The amended ordinance increases the legal age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21. The measure also sets minimum pricing of certain tobacco products, discount pricing and adds new taxes on other tobacco products. The later however is illegal according to state […]
A few weeks ago we reported that the Mayor of Chicago; Rahm Emanuel (D) wanted to impose an increased tobacco tax on cigars and other tobacco products. In addition to the tax the Mayor wanted to change the age in which a person could legally smoke from 18 to 21. In a report from the Chicago Sun Times both measures which should have been routine saw the City Council Finance Committee attack the plan. They argued […]