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News: U.S. Senate Rejoins Fight to Protect Cigars from FDA Regulation

The United States Senate has officially rejoined the fight to protect cigars from FDA legislation, as the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act received an official bill number today, S. 772. The bill has already signed on six co-sponsors, including a bi-partisan effort from Florida as Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Sen. Bill [...]

Editorial: The Ten Questions for 2013

I think this might be my favorite article to write and publish. It takes a lot of time, but despite what my Twitter account might hint at, I do love the industry proper. There were a lot of things that happened in 2012, many of which aren’t so relevant as far as looking at things [...]

Press Release: 14th Cosponsor Signs on to S. 1461

September 20, 2012 — Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) signed on as a cosponsor of S. 1461, the companion bill of H.R. 1639 yesterday. The bills, also known as the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2011, seek to exempt premium cigars from FDA regulation. Senator Heller previously served as Nevada’s Representative [...]

Press Release: H.R. 1639 Reaches 210 Cosponsors

July 20, 2012 (Washington, DC) — With  the  addition  of  Representative  Heath  Shuler  (D-­‐NC-­‐11)  and  Representative  Nan   Hayworth  (R-­‐NY-­‐19),  the  Traditional  Cigar  Manufacturing  and  Small  Business  Jobs  Preservation  Act  of   2011  (H.R.  1639)  now  boasts  the  strength  of  210  Representatives  behind  it.  The  bill,  along  with  its  sister   bill  in  the  Senate [...]

Weekly News (June 25, 2012)

Editor’s Note: After a few weeks of craziness, we seem to be catching up. There are a few technical changes being introduced to the site, if you have any issues, please contact us. Brooks posted the first new Icons of Cigars™ portrait on halfwheel, one of Steve Saka of Drew Estate. In addition we are [...]

News: CRA/IPCPR set to meet with Vice President Biden Today

The International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) announced that representatives from their organization and Cigar Rights of America (CRA) would be meeting with Vice President Joe Biden in Orlando, FL on Friday to personally deliver the White House Petition asking President Obama to instruct the FDA not to regulate the premium cigar industry. [...]

Weekly News (April 30, 2012)

Editor’s Note: The big news of the week? The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a FY13 bill that included language that would encourage the FDA to take authority of all tobacco products, including cigars. The full story is here and overshadows what was otherwise a rather successful week in terms of cigar rights and a slow [...]

News: Senate Moves Closer to FDA Regulation of Cigars

In the same week that saw a joint CRA/IPCPR petition reach its 25,000 signature goal, cigar smokers got some very bad news regarding efforts to keep cigars outside of FDA control. Last week, the Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the FY13 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration; and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill 28-1 with [...]

Press Release: Durbin, Lautenberg Announces Committee Approval of Provision to Encourage FDA Ban on Flavored Cigars

April 27, 2012 (Washington, D.C.) — U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) announced today that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which they are members, approved report language that would urge the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue deeming regulations asserting its regulatory authority over tobacco products – including cigars – [...]

News: White House Petition Reaches 25,000 Signatures

The White House petition asking President Obama to tell the Food & Drug Administration not to regulate the premium cigar industry reached the required 25,000 signatures on Wednesday evening and will now be forwarded to the Obama administration for an official response. “It has been great to see so many people get involved in our Democratic [...]