Minneapolis City Council Preserves Cigar Sampling Exemption, But Limits it to 15 Minutes...

[JohnS]

I don't even know how one is supposed to sample a cigar in 15 minutes, but apparenetly @Fuzz would say I could do it!

Minneapolis City Council Preserves Cigar Sampling Exemption, But Limits it to 15 Minutes

April 25, 2024 - Patrick Lagreid

Being able to light up a cigar in a Minneapolis cigar lounge has only been allowable thanks to a loophole in the city’s laws that allowed for the “sampling” of a product. However, that exemption has recently come under scrutiny as members of the Minneapolis City Council have looked to reduce tobacco use in the city. Today, the council considered an ordinance that would not only eliminate that exemption but impose a number of other changes, most notably a $15 per pack minimum on cigarettes as well as other tobacco products such as moist snuff and snus.

While the ordinance ultimately passed during Thursday’s council meeting, the cigar sampling exemption remained, but with an interesting amedment to it. While sampling will still be allowed, it will be limited to just 15 minutes per visit, or 15 minutes per 60 minutes of time, as of December 1.

“The person won’t be able to sit down and just smoke a cigar, right, like, it really is about sampling,” said Councilmember LaTrisha Vetaw, when asked to clarify why she proposed the time limit. She said that people in testimony described the exemption as creating a place where people could go and smoke with their friends, using a derogatory tone while describing customers who would “congregate” to sample a cigar in each other’s company. Vetaw had also proposed a ban on the store providing seating to its customers, though that was voted down by a 9-4 vote amidst concerns for those with disabilities and other needs.

The change is limited in its effect, as there is only one cigar store in the city that is utilizing the exemption, Anthony’s Pipe and Cigar Lounge. The exemption will not be granted to new stores, as the amendment requires that stores be operating and offering sampling as of April 1, 2024 in order to gain the exemption.

The amendment to carve out the exemption was proposed by Councilmember Aisha Chughtai, who represents the district where Anthony’s Pipe and Cigar Lounge is located. She said that she appreciated all of the public health benefits brought forward in the ordinance, but also recognized that preserving the exemption would allow the store to stay in business and remain a benefit to the district. The amendment passed by a 10-3 vote, but was then amended by Vetaw, which imposed the time limit of 15 minutes, an amendment passed by a 12-0 vote with one abstention.

Beyond the cigar sampling loophole, the ordinance ends price discounts and coupons for commercial tobacco products and increases the penalties for licensees that violate city policy.

Minneapolis’ mayor, Jacob Frey, has previously said he supports the changes made by the ordinance.

Source: https://halfwheel.com/minneapolis-city-council-preserves-cigar-sampling-exemption-but-limits-it-to-15-minutes/438189/

[sam]

Most members of the Minneapolis city counsel are more interested in social issues than meaningfully managing core city functions. ——sam

[BrightonCorgi]

At least there won't be any police to enforce that in Minneapolis. 

Minneapolis were most fervent on the "Defund the Police" movement. The community activists should torch the cigar lounge like other business they don't agree with.  Simple solution.

[madandana]

So you can light one up but have to put it out in 15 minutes?  Another brilliant move by MPLS. Finest.

[Li Bai]

This is ridiculous.

[Edicion]

I'm not an expert but seems like a law that's difficult to enforce. Make it a member's only to enter the lounge and close the door. It would be difficult for anyone to argue that anyone has been smoking for more than 15 minutes. Any Double Corona, if asked, I would be like: oh this one? Yeah I smoked it for 15 min, then I put it down, and I've been sitting here watching the cigar spontaneously combust for 1.5 hours. 

[Ford2112]

What's the point of this law? I just don't get it.