July 1, 2024 Patrick Lagreid Weekly News

Weekly News (July 1, 2024)

PCA Promotes Joshua Habursky to Executive Director

One of the top organizations has a new leader, and it’s Joshua Habursky, who takes the reins from Scott Pearce, who departed in late May to lead the Cigar Association of America. The move is interesting for several reasons, notably that it was a promotion from within the organization and that Habursky comes to the role from a background of lobbying and governmental affairs as opposed to running trade groups. Plus, Habursky and Pearce have worked together at PCA for several years, so that could help as they head their respective organizations. When I’ve had the chance to speak with him, I’ve always been impressed by Habursky and I’m fascinated to see just what shifts in the direction the organization might undergo in the near future as it continues to navigate a number of the same challenges it has dealt with in recent years, including its annual convention & trade show.

Supreme Court Overturns Chevron Deference, a Likely Hit to FDA’s Tobacco Regulatory Authority

The Chevron deference—which dates back to a 1984 ruling in which the Supreme Court found that when Congressional intent was ambiguous, courts must defer to an executive agency’s expertise when deciding cases—shows some of the complex and complicated machinations of government policy-making and enforcement. While this could be a win for the premium cigar industry in its fight against FDA regulation, this will likely have ripples and waves of effects in numerous other parts of society that will likely take years, if not longer, to fully be felt.

FDA, HHS Ask Court to Dismiss Menthol Cigarette Ban Lawsuit

When you see menthol cigarettes mentioned in a headline, you might be inclined to wonder what this is doing on a website covering the premium cigar industry. Yet, as my colleague Charlie Minato pointed out, if the FDA and HHS lose this case, it will likely accelerate a decision about whether to ban flavored cigars, a decision that is currently on indefinite hold and which could have significant impacts on the premium cigar industry. It’s a bit of a long read, but one that’s worth it, particularly to understand having ground for filing a lawsuit, as well as the idea of delaying action being impermissible, even when there was no deadline to act.

Cigar News

Legislation

International

State

  • New Jersey Senate Committee Approves Bill Banning Smoking in Casinos — via GloucesterCityNews.net
  • South Dakota’s Initiated Measure 28 Brings Up Concerns on Tobacco Tax — via BlackHillsFox.com

Local

  • Vallejo, Calif. Postpones Tobacco Retailer Licensing Requirement — via VallejoSun.com

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, the G-League's Valley Suns, and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.

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