Tobacco.org

D.C Prepares for Battle on Single-Cigar Sales Ban Proposal 

Opponents of a Washington, D.C., bill that proposes a ban on single-cigar sales will get the chance to voice their concerns at a hearing scheduled for the end of the month.

The bill's intention is to reduce marijuana use by amending the Drug Paraphernalia Act of 1982 to ban the selling of "single cigar products." These products are broadly defined as an "individual cigar, cigar leaf wrapper, flavored or non-flavored cigar that is referred to as a blunt, blunt wrap, or any other tobacco product that may be used in the ingesting, inhaling, or introduction of marijuana to the human body."

In essence, the bill looks to combat the act of "blunting," or replacing the tobacco filler in a cigar with marijuana. However, to the chagrin of cigar store shop owners, the bill's language does not attempt to distinguish cheap blunts from premium, handmade cigars.

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DC Smoke Shops Warn of Proposed Ban on Sales of Single Cigar 

Is the day coming when you go into a cigar store and can’t buy a single cigar? That day could come sooner than anyone might expect, according to the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association.

The Washington D. C. Council has scheduled a public hearing on Bill 18-124, called the “Single Sale of Cigar Products Prohibition Amendment Act of 2009.” The open ended Bill would ban the sale of individual cigars or cigar products that might be used to introduce marijuana into the human body. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on September 29 in the John A. Wilson building at 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington DC 20004.

“There are cigars, and then there are premium cigars. There is a huge difference between them and we need to educate the Council as to what that difference is because this bill, if enacted, would be devastating to all legitimate cigar stores in the area,” said Chris McCalla, legislative director of the IPCPR.

“The bottom line is that this is bad legislation that won’t do what it is intended to do – stop the use of marijuana. The only thing it will do is irreparable harm to owners of cigar stores, their employees and loyal customers who enjoy premium cigars.”

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• Smoking critics irked as D.C. diverts tobacco funds 

Anti-smoking activists want the D.C. Council to devote new funding for cessation programs after the body voted to hike the cigarette tax and raid the tobacco settlement fund but dedicate the associated revenue to the budget shortfall.

At-large Councilman David Catania, chairman of the health committee, served up the tobacco fund during last week's closed-door deficit sessions. When members threatened to raise property and other taxes rather than cut more from the budget, Catania offered additional dollars from the settlement fund to bridge the gap.

The pot was ultimately drained of nearly $27 million.

"No one likes having to use part of these proceeds for gap-closing measures, but the alternative was worse, and that's why we recommended that we use a portion, not all," Catania said Thursday. "There still will be substantial tobacco funds held in reserves for future activities."

The council also backed a cigarette tax increase, from $2 to $2.50 per pack. The associated revenue, expected to be $9.7 million in 2010, will flow to the general fund.

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• Capitol Hill tries to eliminate cigarette butts  

For the first time, the Capitol Hill Business Improvement District linked up with the Keep America Beautiful Cigarette Litter Prevention Program to help clear out tossed-away cigarettes left behind by smokers.

Three high-traffic areas on Capitol Hill were picked: the southeast corner of Eighth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue SE; on First Street SE in front of Bullfeathers and Tortilla Coast; and on the south side of Pennsylvania Avenue between Third and Fourth streets SE.

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District of Columbia Cigarette Tax Increase Delivers Victory for Kids and Taxpayers 

The D.C. Council has taken an important step to protect the District's kids and taxpayers from the devastating toll of tobacco use by increasing the cigarette tax by 50 cents to $2.50 per pack -- the seventh highest cigarette tax in the nation. We applaud the City Council for its unanimous support of this life-saving proposal, and we look forward to Mayor Adrian M. Fenty signing it into law.

At the same time, the Council missed an opportunity to renew funding for the highly successful DC Tobacco-Free Families tobacco prevention and cessation program. Without action, funding for this program will largely expire at the end of September. To enhance and sustain the benefits from the tax increase, D.C. leaders should act quickly to provide the needed funds.

Higher tobacco taxes are a win-win-win solution for the District of Columbia -- a health win that will reduce tobacco use and save lives, a financial win that will raise revenue for critical programs, and a political win that polls show is popular with the voters. With the increase, the District of Columbia will join 11 states that have increased their cigarette taxes this year.

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D.C. Council Approves Tax Increases and Spending Cuts  

District residents could soon face higher sales, gas and cigarette taxes after the D.C. Council approved a revised fiscal 2010 budget that might force Mayor Adrian M. Fenty to abandon earlier promises to not raise taxes and avoid cuts in public education. . . .

The proposal to raise the cigarette tax by 50 cents, to $2.50 a pack, would make the District's tax the sixth-highest in the nation, according to the American Lung Association.

David Sutton, a spokesman for Altria, the parent company of Richmond-based Philip Morris USA, predicted that smokers would flock to Virginia for their cigarettes. Virginia's cigarette tax is 30 cents. Maryland's is $2.

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Higher Taxes in District Likely 

The D.C Council tentatively agreed to increase the sales, gas and cigarette taxes Wednesday after members determined that spending cuts alone would not resolve a projected $662 million budget shortfall over the next three years.

The agreement followed hours of heated debate about how much District residents could afford to pay to spare some services from deep cuts. . . .

The proposal to raise the cigarette tax by 50 cents, to $2.50 a pack, would make the District's levy the sixth-highest rate in the nation, according to the American Lung Association. A pack of cigarettes in the District would cost about $7.50 after the increase took effect in October.

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Got Plans?: July 4th, Outdoor Movies, Bars for First Dates, Anniversary Plans  

Columbia, Md.: Hello Gurus - I was at the Chi Cha lounge a little over a year and a half ago and people were allowed to smoke cigarettes inside, I guess cause it is a hooka bar. Is that still the case?

Fritz: I was at Chi-Cha last night for the always-amusing Notoriety DJ night run by the guys from U.S. Royalty and there were plenty of people puffing away on hookahs. Didn't see anyone smoking cigarettes, but I'm pretty sure you're allowed to smoke 'em if you got 'em.

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Chi Cha Smoking: you're not allowed to smoke cigarettes there at Chi Cha actually. I talked with one of the servers about it and it has something to do with the permit they have only allowing hookah smoke. I don't get it either -- but that's what they told me.

Fritz: Makes sense. (The reason they can allow hookah smoking is because they sell a certain amount of hookah tobacco.)

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Tobacco bill aims at teenagers 

Historic anti-smoking legislation sped to final congressional passage Friday, after a bitter fight with the tobacco industry that lasted nearly 50 years.

President Barack Obama, admittedly still struggling with his own nicotine habit, saluted passage of the bill, which he will soon sign. He said, "For over a decade, leaders of both parties have fought to prevent tobacco companies from marketing their products to children and provide the public with the information they need to understand what a dangerous habit this is."

Specifically, the measure for the first time will give the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate what goes into tobacco products, demand changes or elimination of toxic substances and block the introduction of new products.

Will it matter as much as supporters say? Smokers lighting up outside Washington offices had mixed reactions.

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W Moves Next Door to the White House 

Until I walked out onto the rooftop that used to be the Hotel Washington's Sky Bar -- and will soon be the W Hotel's Rooftop Bar -- I had forgotten what a magnificent view it has. The White House is just a stone's throw away (though throwing stones would probably get you in trouble with the Secret Service). The Washington Monument towers overhead. There's the Jefferson Memorial, the Mall, the Lincoln Memorial, the Air Force Memorial -- it's like being inside a Washington postcard. . . .

When the W opens on July 8, here's what you can expect: . . .

The bar has a funky grass-style covering to match the prospective menu: seasonal drinks and a selection of tapas and light snacks. (No decision has been made about whether or not the rooftop will allow smoking.)

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Hollywood Moves In On Washington Press Prom Parties 

It was early this morning at the French ambassador's home when Eva Longoria Parker, deep in conversation with Jonathan Rhys Meyers, noticed the reporter's notebook. "Don't put in I'm smoking," the "Desperate Housewives" star casually ordered us, before resuming her tete-a-tete with the smoldering Irish actor.

Parker had come to Saturday's White House Correspondents' Association dinner -- our city's biggest media conclave -- somehow expecting all those reporters to ignore the cigarette in her hand. . . because she said so. So adorably Hollywood of her.

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• Improper discarding of smoking materials can lead to fire 

Recently two of Naval Support Activity (NSA) North Potomac's installations have experienced fires with all signs leading to the improper discarding of smoking materials. These smoking materials were discarded near plants and mulched areas either from people smoking in non-smoking areas, or from being discarded from moving vehicles. As a result of theses actions the recent fires have resulted in property loss on the installations. . . .

In an attempt to eliminate these types of incidents in the future, the Naval District Washington (NDW) Fire Prevention Division would like to remind everyone of the current NDW Instruction 5100.2C. This document defines the policy for smoking and tobacco use for NDW and all tenant command activities located onboard installations under the regional jurisdiction.

In accordance with this document, the described policies are applicable to all Department of Defense, military personnel, civilian employees (including non-appropriated fund employees), contract personnel, military families and visitors.

The instruction states that smoking is not allowed in any government vehicles, buildings or garages. Also, smoking is not permitted in any common areas. Smoking is only allowed in ''Designated smoking areas" which are identified by signs and tobacco receptacles. Employees should make themselves aware of these areas and be sure to use them.

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Giant Banner on Parliament Hill Urges President Obama to Stop Cigarette Smuggling from the U.S. to Canada 

As President Obama arrives on Parliament Hill today, he will be greeted by a giant, 21-metre long banner stating "Please STOP cigarette smuggling from the U.S to Canada". The Canadian Council for Tobacco Control (CCTC) is calling for effective action to end the massive volume of smuggled cigarettes originating in the U.S. and entering Canada.

The RCMP reports that cigarette smuggling from about 10 illegal, unlicensed factories located on the U.S. side of the Akwesasne reserve near Cornwall represents as much as 90% of cigarette contraband in Canada. This contraband is having a very serious adverse impact on Canadian public health, public revenue and public security.

"We urge President Obama to take immediate action to shut down the illegal factories which are openly in violation of U.S. federal law," says Bob Walsh, CCTC Executive Director. "U.S. federal enforcement authorities are well aware of the situation, but lack sufficient personnel in the area to take action. The President must ensure that the necessary enforcement resources are put in place."

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Lily Allen: All-Smoking, All-Drinking, All-Dancing 

Lily Allen was full of cigs and giggles at the 9:30 club on Friday night. When the English pop star wasn't singing, she lavished girlish laughter and secondhand smoke upon the crowd, and also pranced around in a tiny romper and demurely called out drink orders.

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Ryan Howard Enjoys a Pre-Game Smoke 

Before the Phillies-Nationals game today, MASN cameras caught Ryan Howard taking a quick drag off a cigarette that was passed to him by Jayson Werth.

I'm not sure whether that's a normal pre-game ritual or whether it was a tribute to Phillies' announcer Harry Kalas (who certainly had the voice of a smoker). Right before the first pitch of the game, the cameras cut to the Phils' dugout as Werth was passing the lit cigarette to the 2006 MVP, who took it, cast a furtive glance around him, had a quick puff and then passed it back. It should be noted, that smoking is banned inside Nationals Park and in all Washington D.C. places of business (except, maybe, the White House). Either way, not a bad weekend for smokers. One day after a chain smoker wins The Masters, the best home run hitter in the league is seen taking a puff in the dugout. This guy would be proud.

Update: In a blow to anti-smoking crusaders everywhere, Ryan Howard has a home run and 3 RBI today.

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