Thursday, June 16 2011
By Jay Hancock | The Baltimore Sun
Yesterday I reported that Peter Franchot told General Assembly leaders that he would prefer not to enforce the ban, effective May 1, against shipping premium cigars direct to Maryland consumers. The law, part of a larger effort to increase regulation of cigars and pipe and chewing tobacco, effectively outlaws Internet cigar sales.
Smokers complained to Franchot, who requested the law, and he said he didn't intend for the statute to cover premium cigars, only cheap cigars and other tobacco sent in bulk. But he wanted to check with the legislature to see if it was OK not to enforce the law. Later in the day I talked to Senate President Mike Miller and a spokeswoman for House Speaker Mike Busch. They both said: the law is the law. From today's column:
Jay Hancock's blog continues at weblogs.baltimoresun.com...
