CRA Connects with State Lawmakers at NCSL Summit in Boston

On August 4, Cigar Rights of America (CRA), alongside the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) and the Cigar Association of America (CAA), co-hosted a cigar reception at the Legacy Club in Boston during the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) annual meeting.

The event offered an opportunity for meaningful conversations with state legislators and staff from across the country. Attendees had the opportunity to learn more about the premium cigar industry and the small businesses it supports, while also hearing directly from industry representatives about the growing number of state-level policy challenges the industry faces.

Across the country, state legislatures are considering a wide range of tobacco control measures that, while often aimed at other products, can inadvertently sweep in premium cigars. These include proposals to ban flavored tobacco products, restrict shipping to adult consumers, impose generational sales bans, and raise excise tax rates or eliminate tax caps that currently protect small businesses. Without careful drafting and clear definitions, these bills risk penalizing an entirely different category of product that is marketed and consumed in a fundamentally different way.

CRA used the event to emphasize how premium cigars are different from other tobacco products and should not be regulated as such. Our conversations focused on encouraging lawmakers to approach tobacco regulation with a nuanced understanding of the category, and to consider the economic impact that overly broad policies can have on local cigar shops, small manufacturers, and adult consumers.

CRA appreciates the collaboration with PCA and CAA and thanks all who attended for taking the time to engage with the industry. These discussions play an important role in shaping a more informed policy environment, and we will continue to build on this momentum in statehouses around the country.

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