The town of Greenfield is looking to become another in a growing list of those in Massachusetts where you must be 21 to purchase tobacco products. On March 11th at 5pm the Greenfield Board of Health is holding a public hearing at 20 Sanderson Street on the consideration to amend existing tobacco regulations to include the 21-year-old age. Located in Franklin County, Greenfield is looking to follow in the footsteps of its county neighbors Montague and […]
The town of Breckenridge, CO is expanding their smoking ban which previously included restaurants, bars and public meeting spaces. Beginning on March 14th, 2015 it will be illegal to smoke in town parks, open spaces, sports areas, recreation paths. golf course facilities and within 10 feet of public transit waiting areas. Also included are Business Entryways where it will be illegal to light up within a 10 foot radius of any doorway. An exemption was […]
Earlier this year the state of West Virginia proposed a tax on other tobacco products (OTP), which includes cigars at a rate of 10.5 percent. This would have been an increase from the current 7 percent as we reported on The Cigar Authority podcast. However, in late February Representatives Allen V. Evans-R, Tom Fast-R, Barbara Evans Fleischauer-D, Mike Pushkin-D and Ruth Rowan-R introduced H.B. 2953 which would tax OTP products at the rate of 39 percent. The […]
In a case that could have legal ramifications around the globe, a Washington DC Judge has issued a court order, preventing a man from smoking in his own home that he has owned for 50 years. The neighbors of Edwin Gray in northeast Washington have filed a civil suit claiming they are being harmed by second-hand smoke that sneaks into their home through the basement. They are seeking $500,000 in damages and an injunction. If […]
In what seems like a constant bombardment of doom and gloom cigars news, there is some good news to report from Rock Hill, South Carolina. After a debate on how to regular smoking in the city’s 21 parks and recreational centers the City Council deadlocked at 3-3 to pass an ordinance. The proposal to ban smoking in city parks was originally proposed by the Parks and Recreation Commission last month. After the vote the commission […]
If Assemblymember J. Gary Prelaw-D has his way, ordering tobacco products in the state of New York could require that a proof of age statement be filled out and returned to mail order companies before an order can be sent. A.B.173 is summarized as requiring companies selling tobacco products over the internet to first send a form to individuals to sign stating that such individual is 18 years of age or older. Provides that upon receipt of […]
Last week we reported on a proposal to ban smoking in a motor vehicle with those under the age of 18 in the state of New Hampshire. In Illinois bill S.B. 729 was introduced earlier this year by Senator Ira Silverstein-D. If passed the bill would prohibit a person from operating or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while a person in the motor vehicle is smoking if a person under 18 years of […]
Currently in the Health & Human Services committee is bill S.B. 648 which would raise the minimum purchase of tobacco in the state of Texas from 18 to 19. The bill was introduced by Juan Hinojosa-D, Joan Huffman-R and Carlos Uresti-D. If passed selling to those under 19 would result in a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of $500.00. It would also prohibit those under 19 from entering a humidor in the state. Texas […]
The town of Winchester, Massachusetts is about to take things to the next level if the Winchester Board of Health has their way. The board is holding a hearing tonight, March 9th that will ban the sale of flavored tobacco products. The board is also seeking to set minimum pricing on all cigars as well as prohibit smoke in workplaces, public places, and surrounding spaces of public buildings. If the law passes, Winchester will become […]
On Tuesday, the House Committee on Judiciary in the state of Hawaii advanced bill HB 385. This bill would raise the legal smoking and purchase age to 21 on the islands. According to the coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii they feel this measure is necessary to protect younger generations. Could you imagine how the men and women who died during Pearl Harbor would feel about this measure. How their sacrifices to our great nation would […]