Massachusetts is at it again, this time flavored cigars are under attack with the Senate passing a tobacco tax increase to 210% on flavored cigars. According to Senator Jason Lewis, a Democrat from Winchester, the use of flavored tobacco has jumped 4,000 percent since 2006. Because of this number and the attraction to younger people he had an amendment attached to the state budget that will raise the tax rom the current 40%. Unflavored cigars would […]
There are a few measures in Massachusetts that puts tobacco under fire from the state with variety of bills currently in the Senate. Senate Bill 1119 is looking to include e-cigarettes in the definition of tobacco products and use of electronic cigarettes in the definition of smoking. Senate Bill 1194 directs the Department of Public Health to promulgate regulations for restricting the marketing and labeling of other tobacco products. Senate Bill 1453 increases the tax […]
As a bill in Oregon moves through the legislative process, SB 663 has mutated considerably that would impose draconian laws that in the short and long-term will hurt the business of tobacco retailers thus damaging the American dream. The bill which can be read at https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2015R1/Measures/Overview/SB663 would raise the tobacco purchase to 21 and also require tobacco retailers to be licensed by the Oregon Liquor Control Commissions. Under that licensing, retailers would be required to be at […]
As the Department of Defense mulls changes to the policy of smoking in the military, the Air Force has made it illegal to smoke in recreational areas including its bowling alleys, beaches, parks, golf courses and basketball courts. Smoking is also prohibited in vehicles on bases where there is a person under the age of 14 present. According to Air Force Colonel Dr. John Oh, the Air Force, we’re committed to promoting tobacco-free living throughout. […]
On Wednesday, at the Town Meeting in Lexington, MA the Board of Health was given the authority to regulate tobacco use and sales. The Town Meeting voted 128-36 in favor to transfer full control the Board of Health. There are currently 55 Massachusetts municipalities that have change the smoking age to 21. Lexington, Massachusetts is home to 30,000 residents over 16.5 square miles and was settled in 1642.
On Thursday the Seattle Democrat Mayor Ed Murray’s administration announced that it is asking the Board of Park commissioners to approve a law that would ban smoking in all public parks. The Emerald City currently has a ban which prohibits any tobacco use within 25 feet of other park patrons as well as in play areas, beaches and playgrounds. The new rule would result in a warning at first but multiple offenses could include exclusion […]
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 […]
There were two bills in North Dakota that sought to the raise tobacco taxes. The proposals would have seen cigars taxed at 50% instead of the current 28%. Last week, the House of Representatives said no to that proposal by voting it down, and the Senate proposal was met with a similar response this week failing with a vote of 30-17. The leader against the measure was Republican Kelly Armstrong. North Dakota is home to 739,000 […]
Smoking tobacco outdoors is a thing of the past in the city of Boulder, Colorado after the City Council voted unanimously to adopt an outdoor smoking ban. The latest smoking ban expands on an existing ban that prohibited smoking at the Pearl Street Mall in 2012 and included the Cigar Area and near Boulder High School last year. The new measure prohibits smoking in the downtown business district, city parks, open spaces, within 25 feet […]
Without much fanfare the Cambridge City Council last week passed new amendments to the Cambridge Tobacco Ordinance including an increase in the purchase age to 21. The also banned smoking in public parks. The new ordinance which goes into effect on June 1st is a modified version of the one that passed in 2003 and is a toned down version on which the Public Health Department sought a citywide ban on open spaces and parks. […]