Cigars in the Crosshairs?

[BrightonCorgi]

In the US news today, there is a new push by the Biden administration to limit the amount of nicotine in all tobacco products.  This is supposed to happen in May 2023.

Could face some legal challenges, but I expect the administration to prevail. 

How will this effect the cigar industry in the States?

[sageman]

I think they need to pick their battles. Currently going after e-cigarettes, flavored cigars, and now nicotine levels. That may be too wide an approach. Looks like law has to be proposed by May 23. Then a year or so of talks. The timing is interesting, because that puts us mid 2024. 2024 is a presidential election year. It's also ironically not too far off from when Cuban tobacco supply levels may normalize! Or maybe not if everyone starts running to offshore options!

[Cigar Surgeon]

Cigars have been in the crosshairs for 8 or 9 years now. Hopefully based on the NASEM findings the industry will be able to show that the cigar industry does not need to be regulated in the same was as cigarettes. 

[BrightonCorgi]

Tobacco is the world's whipping boy.  The timing is interesting as the Administration could've done an executive order on day one.

[KnightsAnole]

All that reducing nicotine would do is make addicts smoke more, thus inhaling more carcinogens per ‘dose’, creating greater strain on the medical system…. When does the madness end. Kids shouldn’t smoke- keep it about that rather than making poor adult people more poor.

[GoodStix]

1 hour ago, Cigar Surgeon said:

Hopefully based on the NASEM findings the industry will be able to show that the cigar industry does not need to be regulated in the same was as cigarettes.

👍

Link to the findings re health effects:

https://nap.nationalacademies.org/resource/26421/Conclusions_Health Effects.pdf

[Tstew75]

Maddening indeed 🤦🏼‍♂️

[idkwhatnametopick]

9 minutes ago, therealrsr said:

I smoke cc's 90% of the time so not really interested what they do unless I get a note from Customs.

I was thinking along those lines - this is irrelevant as far as Cubans. I smoke my share of NCs (newer to Cubans in fact, have mostly smoked NCs to this point) so there could be an issue there, of course. But if so, I'm predicting that NC makers will try to capitalize further on non-US markets and you'll just see more US buyers turn to "grey market" Cuban vendors. Depending on the brand, some of these vendors already sell NCs for significantly less than US shops, even the online ones that are known to be lower-priced than your typical neighborhood B & M.

In short, new regulations will probably have the same effect as regulation of any other substance has had throughout history. People will just find other ways to get it.

[Ford2112]

Maybe NC will be smokeable now?

[NSXCIGAR]

At this point I don't know what the FDA can't do. They should try having the FDA ban guns. Might just work. 

[SCgarman]

4 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Tobacco is the world's whipping boy.  The timing is interesting as the Administration could've done an executive order on day one.

Executive orders can be challenged in court and overturned. 

[bates40]

1 hour ago, NSXCIGAR said:

At this point I don't know what the FDA can't do. They should try having the FDA ban guns. Might just work. 

and/or protect our children while they are at school - this is just a big red herring

[SCgarman]

8 minutes ago, bates40 said:

and/or protect our children while they are at school - this is just a big red herring

School doors that actually lock when they are supposed to would be a good first step, IMO. 

[BrightonCorgi]

31 minutes ago, SCgarman said:

Executive orders can be challenged in court and overturned. 

It's all about the show.  Do you think politicians really care about tobacco?

[Bri Fi]

He should start worrying about what his son smokes before he worries about tobacco. 

[Ford2112]

53 minutes ago, Bri Fi said:

He should start worrying about what his son smokes before he worries about tobacco. 

Dude can't even ride a bike,sheesh.

[jakebarnes]

9 minutes ago, Ford2112 said:

Dude can't even ride a bike,sheesh.

As a cyclist, the first rule of riding is that there is a direct correlation to number of people around and likelihood you will inexplicably fall due to an unclip stopping mishap. Not that I know from direct experience this past week. 

[cigcars]

7 hours ago, Cigar Surgeon said:

Cigars have been in the crosshairs for 8 or 9 years now. Hopefully based on the NASEM findings the industry will be able to show that the cigar industry does not need to be regulated in the same was as cigarettes. 

     *Yeah, lots 'a luck on that one. Cigar industry & aficionados have BEEN trying to get the regulatory officials to make distinction about cigars and the fact that the larger part of nicotine levels are aged out of cigar tobacco. IF they actually do make that distinction and leave our beloved hand made cigars alone that will point to the fact that the Rapture is indeed coming.

  

[Bri Fi]

2 hours ago, Ford2112 said:

Dude can't even ride a bike,sheesh.

I’m sure it was Putin’s fault 

[djrey]

Don’t worry big govt is here to help you! After all these are just common sense reforms. Everyone should be on board with this! Seriously, who actually needs 150 MG of nicotine!?😉 

In all honesty it seems the majority of individuals view rights as singular entities, picking and choosing which they agree with. Happily giving away some while stomping their feet at others. Recent events should show that if you allow the govt to get their foot in the door, they are kicking it in. I live by “not an inch.”

[BrightonCorgi]

Decriminalize hard drugs and banish tobacco; sounds like a good plan.

[Bri Fi]

Maybe we should open “safe cigar lounges” like they have “safe injection sites?”

[SCgarman]

6 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

It's all about the show.  Do you think politicians really care about tobacco?

The ones who order boxes of Cubans do!😋

[BrightonCorgi]

8 hours ago, Bri Fi said:

Maybe we should open “safe cigar lounges” like they have “safe injection sites?”

Or mix heroine with the tobacco and then cigars will have a green light and be kids safe.

[KnightsAnole]

The public demonization will ebb and flow, just like all topics of political debate. Just think about how the political stance of being “tough on crime” has changed in the last 20 years. I’ve been in a few Walgreens lately, where you’d think shoplifting was frowned upon but permitted. Even all the shopping carts got stolen -so they welded 10 foot high poles with flags to the carts so they wouldn’t fit out the doors, because, calling police was useless.

Tobacco will see its day again, I do believe.