This letter was sent to us by cigar enthusiasts of Cigar Rights of America. We would appreciate it if you would read the letter below and follow the steps outlined to keep small cigar shops in business. Thank you.

Cigar Enthusiasts,

On April 26, 2010, December 20, 2010, and July 7, 2011 the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)publicly posted their intent to regulate cigars in the Federal Register, it is incumbent upon the cigar enthusiasts of the United States to voice their opposition to any proposed new regulation of premium/traditional cigars by the United States Government.

House Resolution 1639 has been filed in the U.S. House of Representatives; and a companion bill, Senate Bill 1461, has been filed in the Senate. Both are filed under the banner of the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act . This bi-partisan legislation would decree that premium/traditional cigars should be off limits to FDA regulation and, ‘to clarify the FDA’s jurisdiction’ in the ‘sale, manufacturing and distribution of traditional and premium cigars.’

Such legislation could have a profound impact on protecting the industry, from the fields and factories of Central America , to the supply-chain throughout this nation, to the community tobacconist, to enjoying a cigar in the local shop, club or back porch.

We can assure you, nothing could rip the soul of the cigar industry apart, like FDA actions. In fact, some of the measures FDA could consider, as we believe they are, include:

• Ban on walk-in humidors, self serve cigar displays, and mail-order cigar sales;
• Ban on all flavored cigars, that are enjoyed by legal-age adults;
• Deface ornate, decorative cigar boxes, often considered an art form with grotesque images;
• Ban on cigar events where free cigars (samples) could be available to legal-age adults;
• Limits on cigar marketing and advertising;
• Imposition of new ‘user fees’ [tax] on cigars, to finance regulations;
• Limits on special release and small-batch cigars, due to mandates that cigar blends be submitted to FDA for pre-approval before release;
• Limits on nicotine levels on cigars to near zero, severely impacting the flavor of cigars;
• Ban on marketing cigar merchandise.

H.R. 1639 and S. 1461 are two very important pieces of legislation and we need your help to ensure they pass. Please read below for specific steps on how you can help.

Sincerely,

J. Glynn Loope, Executive Director Cigar Rights of America

Brian Berman, Director of Membership
Cigar Rights of America

1. CLICK HERE to contact your Congressional Representative. Ask for their help in supporting HR 1639 and S 1461.

2. Spread the word! The more support we have and voices reaching out, the more impact goes to the campaign.