It has been just over a week since California’s Unflavored Tobacco List (UTL) officially went into effect on December 31st. In that short time, the impact on the state’s premium cigar retailers has been immediate.

For the better part of a year, Cigar Rights of America (CRA) has been working aggressively to challenge the UTL and protect premium cigars from this short-sighted regulation. CRA is actively pursuing a preliminary injunction in both state and federal court to prevent this deeply flawed policy from irreparably harming premium cigar retailers, manufacturers, and consumers in California.

While the legal fight continues, the real-world consequences are already being felt on the ground. Retailers across California are facing uncertainty, lost sales, and confusion driven by the regulation.

To better illustrate the human and economic toll of the UTL, we wanted to share the perspective of premium cigar retailers who are directly affected by its implementation.

Alijandra Mogilner, Owner – Racine & Laramie, San Diego

“The rollout of the UTL has been hectic, and as a TAA store that carries a significant number of aged, limited, and exclusive cigars, we’re very concerned about what this means for product availability going forward. We’ve already taken a financial hit by having to discount cigars simply to remove them from inventory ahead of the list’s publication. When it comes to store exclusives, which are a vital part of our business, the cost of compliance threatens the long-term viability of this important segment.”

Ammar Tabbaa, Owner – Maxamar Ultimate Cigars

“The law has only recently gone into effect, yet its application remains unclear. The published UTL reflects only a fraction of the SKUs that have been registered, and guidance continues to change from day to day, leaving us uncertain about which products we are permitted to sell. While the Attorney General’s office has made efforts to work with us in good faith, the fundamental issue remains the $12 price point, which continues to exclude a significant portion of lawful premium cigar products. We are also concerned that this framework is intended to be replicated state-by-state, magnifying these compliance and market-access challenges nationwide.”

Anonymous Retailer – Multiple Locations in California

“There is a lot of confusion around enforcement and who is responsible for products that don’t appear on the list. We still don’t have clear answers about when enforcement begins or how compliance will be handled. We won’t truly know how aggressive or consistent the UTL will be until enforcement starts and we see whether it’s applied uniformly from store to store. That’s why we’re grateful for CRA stepping up and defending retailers in court.”

Adam Prim, Owner – Cigar Club of Modesto

“The rollout of the UTL has been disorganized and costly. We were forced to liquidate products below cost and repeatedly audit our inventory to ensure compliance. As a result, we had to remove some of our best-selling products simply because manufacturers were unable or unwilling to apply for inclusion on the UTL.”

These voices underscore what CRA has consistently emphasized about the UTL, and that it is being used as a blunt regulatory instrument that sweeps premium cigars into a framework never designed for them.

Our fight against California’s burdensome new regulations continues in state and federal court and hope to be vindicated in due time.

CRA remains fully committed to fighting this law and others like it. As new and aggressive tobacco regulations are pushed in legislatures across the country, the threat to premium cigars is real and growing. California is not an isolated case; it is a warning.

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