FDA CHOOSES OPTION 1, WILL REGULATE PREMIUM CIGARS

[Kenf13]

Really bad news for cigar smokers today!

http://halfwheel.com/fda-chooses-option-1-will-regulate-premium-cigars/113855

[wabashcr]

Very disappointing, but not at all unexpected. Still hope for congressional override at some point, but that's starting to look less likely to happen anytime soon. Thankfully it doesn't apply to CCs bought overseas, but it's devastating for many of the smaller NC manufacturers.

[skalls]

May actually affect CCs when the embargo is lifted since those products were not available legally within the US which could mean every CC would need to go through the FDA for approval.

Stupid though. More and bigger government isn't the solution and I don't need to have the government tell me what I should and shouldn't do.

[wade1979]

When does the Govt take a pass on regulating something?

[Jager223]

Wow, and I thought the UK was a nanny state. Common sense is dead, smokers know that it isn't good for their health, we do it because it is pleasurable. These are probably the same fools who are such big advocates of medicinal marijuana, inhalation of carcinogenic smoke is inhalation of carcinogenic smoke, regardless of whether or not it's tobacco or weed. The health nazi's need to know when to butt out. Personally, i'd rather be dead at 70, having lived a full and rich life rather than squeak out a wet fart of an existence for 100 years.

[sactochris]

It will have massive repercussions on the US cigar market.

[jmg]

this sux. the only minuscule good thing is that they MAY ban flavored stuff. (with my apologies to all the DE Acid lovers)

[MPS]

Hopefully the new POTUS will reverse this crap.

[MooseAMuffin]

Sheesh. This regulation crap is out of control. Can't believe they think kids buy premium $10-$20 cigars when they could get 2-4 packs of cigarettes for that price. Silly.

[PigFish]

God save us from the administrative state.

So, where are all those members that think that this legislation is anything but progressive? They never give up guys... Wise up, or cigar smoking ends on our lifetime!

-the Pig

[Bulldog4]

God save us from the administrative state.

So, where are all those members that think that this legislation is anything but progressive? They never give up guys... Wise up, or cigar smoking ends on our lifetime!

-the Pig

piggy I completely agree except that cigar smoking ends in our lifetime. I'm 28 and I've found more and more younger people enjoying cigars then before I don't know if it's because people like the Kardashians are seen smoking them or not but I hope people understand that cigars are not cigarettes and eventually realize it.

[Phatskipper]

If I documented what I actually think in text on this website, I would probably end up on some sort of list. Which probably is not that bad considering I am likely on all of their lists already.

It is pretty wild that the same people (liberals) who are looking to heavily regulate cigars and all other parts of my life are just fine with selling pot to children, providing children with abortions without telling their parents and condone all sorts of other risky behavior... but heaven forbid someone wants to enjoy a cigar as we have been able to for a 200+ years.

These are the same people who cannot understand why we Americans have been repeatedly setting records for monthly gun sales. I have no doubt that the breaking point they appear bent on pushing to is quickly approaching.

I guess I will have to look for places to buy my non-Cuban Cigars online and avoid paying taxes on those too.

[DoubleDD]

Because all of the other regulations they have on everything has made life so much better.....ridiculous.

[Orion21]

piggy I completely agree except that cigar smoking ends in our lifetime. I'm 28 and I've found more and more younger people enjoying cigars then before I don't know if it's because people like the Kardashians are seen smoking them or not but I hope people understand that cigars are not cigarettes and eventually realize it.

That is called wishful thinking and in the real world the same fascist a-holes who just passed these new rules will stomp, spit and bludgeon your wishful thinking to death. The fact of the matter is that these regulatory organizations will never ever EVER stop expanding regulations because if they did they would become irrelevant. These people are not elected, yet they are given the power to decide what we can buy, what we can consume and how much we are going to pay for it. Is some sort of regulation necessary in our society, yes of course, but this is abuse of power and social engineering.

And to address your other point, when these people get done with it cigars will only be produced by the largest companies and will cost a fortune to buy. You and your young friends will be priced out of the market. Look to Canada and parts of Europe and examine their prices. Even they don't have regulations on the books that are this crazy. They just tax the stuff to high heaven. These new regulations will make it exorbitantly expensive to create and manufacture cigars before any taxation occurs.

[PigFish]

... just picked up a new 80% lower this weekend! For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, it will just make you mad so you best not Google it! -LOL

-the Pig

[Phatskipper]

I was considering a milling machine for 80% lowers. $1500 is steep but future proofing yourself against future overreach might actually be worth it. The sad thing is that if they were not threatening over regulation, I probably would not buy one.

Edit: a couple of things, after further review i edited some information to avoid running afoul of the sensible link/advertising limits placed on this message board.

[PigFish]

Frankly folks, this is another reason that I make the fight that cigar smoking is not a luxury. It is not, nor more than chewing gum should be. While I understand the arguments from a corporate perspective, unless neophytes are introduced to the hobby, mentored, and there exists reasonably priced entry level cigars, we are cooked!

Smoke and buy cigars for your own reasons, of course! But this whole 'collector, expensive, luxury item' mindset, simply feeds the nature of the argument that 'we' collectively, can afford the taxes and should pay them. Cigars should be no more a luxury than a decent package of ground meat! The more we feed into the premise that 'only the rich smoke cigars' the more it will become true!

You think for on second that those that push this legislation don't look at the prices that we pay? Think again!

When gas was 5 bucks a gallon, ever hear that the "gubment" would lighten the tax load to make it easier on the consumer? Nope! Instead, now that gas is less, they talk of raising the federal excise tax!

-Piggy

[PigFish]

Edited by Mr. Piggy for the sake of peace, love and understanding. Now back to rolling in the clover!!

[Bulldog4]

That is called wishful thinking and in the real world the same fascist a-holes who just passed these new rules will stomp, spit and bludgeon your wishful thinking to death. The fact of the matter is that these regulatory organizations will never ever EVER stop expanding regulations because if they did they would become irrelevant. These people are not elected, yet they are given the power to decide what we can buy, what we can consume and how much we are going to pay for it. Is some sort of regulation necessary in our society, yes of course, but this is abuse of power and social engineering.

And to address your other point, when these people get done with it cigars will only be produced by the largest companies and will cost a fortune to buy. You and your young friends will be priced out of the market. Look to Canada and parts of Europe and examine their prices. Even they don't have regulations on the books that are this crazy. They just tax the stuff to high heaven. These new regulations will make it exorbitantly expensive to create and manufacture cigars before any taxation occurs.

Fair enough and I am from Canada and know all about taxes compare FOH to an local b&m is almost 300% difference mostly tax

[Orion21]

Fair enough and I am from Canada and know all about taxes compare FOH to an local b&m is almost 300% difference mostly tax

Then for perspective take your prices and then double them again. This is what the regulations in the USA, if implemented in Canada, would do to cigar prices.

[btp1979]

... just picked up a new 80% lower this weekend! For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, it will just make you mad so you best not Google it! -LOL

-the Pig

It makes me mad that I don't have my own milling machine lol

[Phatskipper]

You are relatively new here mate so let me suggest that you make your posts a bit more cryptic on this topic. This not a universally accepted topic!

You should not get upset over others that disagree with us, just be aware of it. There is a sensitive balance here as other places when it comes to many of these left verse right arguments, and this is a very sensitive topic, not only with us enthusiasts, but to those who believe that we should not have these rights.

So as one guy who agrees with you, to you, ease off a little and the thread will remain open.

I am not a mod here, just so you know. But these threads have a way of spiraling out of control and if I can avoid that, I will, for the good of everyone!

-Piggy

I was actually in the process of editing that comment when yours came through, i should learn to reread it first rather than edit! I appreciate the heads up, though it looks like it is caught in your quote.

[PigFish]

I was actually in the process of editing that comment when yours came through, i should learn to reread it first rather than edit! I appreciate the heads up, though it looks like it is caught in your quote.

I am glad that you did not take offense to my comment, thank you!

Whether you are pro or anti, none of us should be chasing others off the forum (MHO). I have seen a lot of guys that I like leave the forum over this issue, and as I said, I think that is bad for the community as a whole. That was my only point.

In the end we should always come together over cigars. That is why we are here. That mindset, while not perfect by any means, has kept me here posting for over a decade now. The proprietor is my friend, I have no more desire to raise a ruckus here than in his home... (Yet I am certainly guilty of it...)

Cheers mate! -Piggy

[PigFish]

Speaking of condensate in humidors... I have been designing a new collection system. Work in progress!!! -LOL

By the way, water vapor, to the EPA is a pollutant! I wonder when we will be required to license our humidors? -Piggy

[El Presidente]

It is a war that has been fought outside of the US for 20 years.

It is a war that we (cigar lovers) have been losing throughout that time.

We fight and occasionaly there are victories (UK reversal of Cigar plain packaging/UK tasting lounges/out door specific smoking), but there is no genuine ....excuse the pun..."clean air" to plan decisively for a decade ahead.

The Anti Smoking/Anti Cigar lobby are zealots who understand/speak the language of the slithering poitical machine. The zealots never stop. They work against our freedoms every day of the year. Every year. More times than not they are funded by ther own associations via grants from the Governments themselves.

From our perspective no one should give up the fight. What they hate more than anything are scenes and pictures of people actually enjoying themselves in the face of tighter legislation. It irks them no end.

But while they will be slapping themselves on their collective backs this morning/evening, they are already putting in plan the next phase of their assault. It would already have been planned. The next 5 phases have been planned.

Their one weakness is that they they tend to overreach. They end up passing so many laws that at the extreme edges, the laws can only be enforced by the public. Intelligent civil disobedience is like the "undergound" in this war.

Buy time. Challenge everything (the current case in the WTO is an example). Work out the grey areas. Exploit them. Don't work with these zealots with industry surveys etal (ever). Turn the focus on the manufacturers to band together (Cuban and non Cuban). let them develop and work on new distribution/product strategies that reflect the current and evolving legislative environment as opposed to putting their head in the sand (as many do) and playing the victim card. They also need to plan 5 phases ahead.

It is ugly out there in many parts of the cigar world. The heartbeat of cigars (and it's continued survival) is the growing number of people who enjoy them, smoke them, share them. It is growing even in the face of tyrannical legislation in Oz, Europe, Asia.

This is what confuses the zealots. This is what they can't come to grips with. How is it that even with all this legislation and curbing of freedoms, the love affair with cigars grows stronger.

They can legislate against smoke.....but like whisps of smoke itself, they are having a hell of a time bottling and burying it.

Fight, live, laugh, love. They are only capable of the first and are incapable of understanding the other three (and never will) as they pertain to our lifestlye choice. That is our advantage.