Sunday, January 07 2007
With Democrats taking control of the new session of the U.S. Congress, the Boston Globe reported that liberal Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) will introduce a bill to give the Federal Drug Administration authority over many, if not all, forms of tobacco.
Reporter Diedtra Henderson noted that previous bills on the same subject had failed when introduced in Congress under Republican control. However, she quoted Bill Corr, Executive Director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids as saying "We are confident that the legislation will be considered and pass in this Congress."
Aspects of the bill to be introduced will likely include advertising regulations and "marketing aimed at children that glamorizes smoking" as well as lists of ingredients. Whether such statutes would survive certain court challenges, or even be signed into law by U.S. President George W. Bush is another matter.
Previous bills had given the FDA considerable leeway in regulation, but had made actual prohibition of cigarettes or elimination of nicotine content subject only to Congressional action.
The new year has started and the post-Fidel era in Cuba is drawing closer. But just so we're clear: there is no way, at present, for U.S. citizens to buy Cuban cigars legally.
In fact, the current regulations issued by the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) go so far as to be preposterous. But the regulations, in force since September 30, 2004, state clearly: "There is now an across the board ban on the importation into the United States of Cuban-origin cigars and other Cuban-origin tobacco products, as well as most other products of Cuban origin. This prohibition extends to such products acquired in Cuba, irrespective of whether a traveler is licensed by OFAC to engage in Cuba travel-related transactions, and to such products acquired in third countries by any U.S. traveler, including purchases at duty-free shops. Importation of these Cuban goods is prohibited whether the goods are purchased directly by the importer or given to the importer as a gift. Similarly, the import ban extends to Cuban-origin tobacco products offered for sale over the Internet or through the catalog [or] mail purchases."
This should make it clear to anyone who cares to pay attention that Cuban cigars may not be purchased or received by U.S. citizens. But the regulations don't stop there: "The question is often asked whether United States citizens or permanent resident aliens of the United States may legally purchase Cuban origin goods, including tobacco and alcohol products, in a third country for personal use outside the United States. The answer is no." That sums it up.
Short fillers: Montreal's Stade Olympique, centerpiece of the 1976 Olympic Games and symbol of one of the most financially ruinous sporting events in history, was finally paid for near the end of last year. More than 30 years after serving as the site of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and the track & field competitions at the Games of the XXI Olympiad, the construction and renovation costs of about $1.47 billion Canadian (about $1.25 billion U.S.) were finally paid off thanks to a special tax on cigarettes in Quebec. "You can say it was Quebec smokers who paid for that," noted Olympic Installations Board President Gilles Lipine, "but we can say that this is good for the health of all Quebecers." Naturally, the smokers who paid the bill got a slap in the face in return. No smoking is allowed in or around the stadium, or even in the parking lots! . . . Lew Rothman's Cigars by Santa Clara has introduced the early leader in the "weirdest brand name of the year" contest: Flor de Baloney. It's an overruns and seconds brand for cigars produced at General Cigar's factory in Cofradia, Honduras. Eight sizes are available in bundles of 25; happily, none are named White Bread, Lettuce, Tomato, Mayonnaise, Mustard or Ketchup!
- Rich Perelman in Los Angeles
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Reprinted by permission. Heard in the Humidor is a publication of Perelman, Pioneer & Company. Copyright 2007; All rights reserved.
