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Imagine a world where cigar blends are subjected to regulated, scientific oversight
– eliminating creativity in blending and possibly many of the tobacco types we see
to today, or may see in the future....thus removing much of the flavor we’ve grown
to love. Imagine that the beautiful art which covers cigar boxes and embraces cigars
is replaced with oversized warning labels or disturbing images. Imagine walking
into a cigar store, forced to order from a menu or memory, with no cigars in sight
– indeed, cigars are kept out of the customers view, locked away. Imagine losing
the ability to order premium cigars from a catalog or website. Given the pending
regulation of cigars by the FDA, these are real possibilities. But it’s not too late.
With our combined voices, we still have a very realistic shot at exempting premium
cigars from this extremely damaging legislation. But we need to speak now.
We must be loud and we must be heard.
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Currently, the FDA is attempting to put restrictions on how tobacco products are
made and sold in the United States. As it stands, premium cigars could be included
in these regulations. But, as you well know, cigars are fundamentally different
from cigarettes and other forms of tobacco. So in turn, they should be afforded
different regulatory treatment. It’s our job to make our elected officials understand
this, and also understand that the implications of these regulations could effectively
end premium cigars as we know them today.
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FDA regulations could potentially require, for example:
- Graphic warnings on cigar boxes, advertising and point of sale materials.
- Significant advertising restrictions such as black and white only ads.
- Only behind the counter sales. This could prohibit walk-in humidors.
- Only face-to-face sales. This could prohibit mail order sales.
- Ban on flavored cigars.
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As cigar enthusiasts, we need to speak as a unified coalition. Please be active,
be heard, and ask your U.S. Congressmen, especially your Senators, to support HR 1639/S 1461
"Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2011"
. This bipartisan legislation clarifies the Tobacco Control Act to exempt premium
cigars from FDA regulation and will stand up for our rights as enthusiasts.
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It will only take a minute of your time, but that minute will make a major difference.
Please, take the time contact your respective Congressman and help squash these
threatening regulations before they move any further. The future, and the status
quo, of cigars truly depends on it.
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