Cigar Industry Report: Volume 6, Number 10 (1/28/17)

The Cigar Industry Report is a one stop place to catch up on the activity here at Cigar Coop. It is a combination of our news reports, cigar reviews, and assessment updates we do throughout the week. Finally, each week we will look back at Cigar Coop history. Look for this report every Saturday morning at 8am Eastern time.

Cigar Industry Report: Volume 6, Number 10 (Edition 211 1/28/17)

Cigar Coop Announces Partnership with Kiss My Ash Radio

We are proud to be the official news provider to Kiss My Ash Radio. We got the details here.

Feature of the Week: Letter Sent by Congressman to Vice President Mike Pence

Three United States Congressman sent a letter to Vice President Mike Pence urging the Trump Administration to suspend enforcement of the FDA Deeming Rules on premium cigars. The letter was by Rep. Bill Posey (R-Florida), Rep.Duncan Hunter (R-California), and Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pennsylvania).

Year in Review

This week we wrapped up our Year in Review Coverage. We recap everything here:

News Recap

Black Label Trading Company: The announced a cigar batch of its J.W. Marshall cigar for Cigar Federation.
Cigar Media Association: The association announced its 2016 Award Winners.
Gurkha: Announced it will be expanding in the Mexican market.

Legislative News

House of Representatives: H.R. 564 is a proposed piece of legislation that calls for an exemption from FDA Regulation for premium handmade cigars. This week 13 co-sponsors were added including: Rep William Lacy Clay [D-Missouri], Rep Peter Roskam [R-Illinois], Rep Thomas Rooney [R-Florida], Rep Bradley Byrne [R-Alabama], Rep John Duncan Jr [R-Tennessee], Rep Glenn Thompson [R-Pennsylvania], Rep Bob Goodlatte [R-Virginia], Rep Andy Barr [R-Kentucky], Rep Ted Budd [R-NC], Rep Bennie Thompson [R-Mississippi], Rep Michael Turner [R-Ohio], Rep Alexander Mooney [R-West Virginia], and Rep John Katko [R-New York]. The total number of sponsors is now 53.
Arizona: A bill has been introduced to raise the Smoking Age to 21.
Connecticut: State Representative Prasad Srinivasan has introduced legislation to raise the minimum smoking age to 21.
Mississippi: Legislation has been introduced to the State House and State Senate that proposes raising age to purchase tobacco products to 21.
New York: Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal has once again introduced legislation to raise the age to purchase tobacco products to 21. In addition Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget calls for a proposal to replace the current cigar tax with a 45 cent flat tax.
North Dakota; Legislators have introduced HB 1312 that proposes raising the purchasing of tobacco and smoking age to 19.
Texas: Legislation has been introduced by State Representative John Zerwas and State Senator Carlos Uresti have introduced legislation to raise the age to purchase tobacco to 21.
Washington: Legislators have once again introduced a bill to raise the smoking age to 21.
White House: We covered what President Trump’s freeze on new regulations mean to the cigar industry ?