Restrictive Tobacco Regulatory Proposal Amended in Oregon

Earlier this year, Oregon lawmakers considered legislation that would have significantly expanded restrictions on the sale and distribution of tobacco products within the state. Although the proposal initially posed concerns for the premium cigar industry, the legislation was ultimately amended to remove premium cigars from its scope.

Proposed Ban on Direct-to-Consumer Cigar Shipments

In Oregon, House Bill 1571 proposed prohibiting the shipment of premium cigars and other combustible tobacco products directly to consumers in the state and mandated all transactions be face-to-face. 

Fortunately, as the bill moved through the legislative process, the legislation was amended to remove premium cigars from the scope of the bill. This change eliminated the direct impact on the premium cigar category and allowed the bill to proceed without affecting cigar shipments.

Moving Forward

While HB 1571 no longer directly impacts premium cigars, the introduction of the measure along with others in places like Tennessee and Illinois, illustrates an emerging regulatory approach that the industry will likely continue to encounter. Efforts to restrict remote tobacco sales remain an active area of policy development in many states.

CRA will continue monitoring legislative proposals like this across the country and will continue our work with retailers, manufacturers, and consumers to ensure that premium cigars are not inadvertently included in broader regulatory frameworks designed for other tobacco products.

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