An Assembly Bill (AB) has been published in California that would ultimately spell the demise of Premium Tobacco in the State of California. The Bill, AB no. 935, serves to ban all tobacco sales to anyone born after the set date of January 1st, 2007.
Here are some excerpts from the Bill directly:
“This bill would implement a phased tobacco ban by prohibiting a tobacco retailer, as defined, from selling tobacco products, as defined, to any person born on or after January 1, 2007.”
AB no. 935
“The bill would provide penalties for violations, including escalating civil fines and the suspension or revocation of the sellers license to sell tobacco products. The bill would require that enforcement of these provisions be the responsibility of the State Department of Public Health.”
AB no. 935
“‘Tobacco product’ means a product containing, made, or derived from tobacco or nicotine that is intended for human consumption, whether smoked, heated, chewed, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, snorted, sniffed, or ingested by any other means, including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, vaping liquid, or snuff. ‘Tobacco product’ does not include a product that has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for sale as a tobacco cessation product or for other therapeutic purposes where the product is marketed and sold solely for such an approved purpose.”
AB no. 935
From PCA
“We are deeply concerned about AB 935 and any legislation that seeks to restrict the rights of premium cigar smokers. These proposals are not based on scientific evidence, but rather on a political agenda that seeks to demonize adult cigar smokers and restrict their freedom to enjoy a legal product. Clearly it is no longer a hidden agenda of the anti tobacco groups to support full prohibition.”
Joshua Habursky, Deputy Executive Director of the PCA (Taken from PCA’s Instagram)
PCA’s Instagram continued with the following
“Bans on tobacco products have been introduced and implemented around the world, including in New Zealand where a similar measure was enacted restricting tobacco purchases to only those born before 2009. Such bans are ineffective and only serve to create a black market for these products.”
What we as cigar smokers can do
PCA is working to educate lawmakers and other stakeholders on the unique nature of premium cigars, which are a handcrafted, artisanal product enjoyed by adults in moderation.
You can join the fight and added information by heading over to cigaraction.org and sign up to let your voice be heard. Now, more than ever, it is important to stand against such bans early so that they do not pass and spread to other states to limit the freedom of cigar smokers everywhere to enjoy premium hand rolled blends.
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