Tuesday, March 08 2011
Chris McCalla | IPCPR
Flavorings Ban Fails in Committee, Dies in Session
House Bill 1246 Would also have Established Local Control on Tobacco Regulations
March 8, 2011 - Following several tense months, House Bill 1246, legislation that proposed to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products in the state, failed to get out of committee, effectively killing it for the 2011 legislative session. HB1246 would have also given local governments greater latitude to regulate tobacco products beyond what the state presently dictates.
While the bill is dead for the session, it may be brought back for consideration in the 2012 session. Knowing this, Washington retailers refocus those efforts from the flavorings bill and may now solely focus on legislation that, if approved, would again allow smoking in their shops and cigar bars in the state.
Washington retailers, working with the Cigar Association of America, The Cigar Rights of America, and the industry's manufacturers and allies continue full speed ahead on House Bill 1683 and Senate Bill 5542; the two active bills, if ultimately approved by the legislature and governor's office, will allow retailers and cigar bar owners to obtain permits so they may again smoke in their shops. I-901, a 2005 convoluted, voter-approved initiative, banned smoking in all businesses, including retail tobacco shops and cigar bars.
A tremendous pat on the back and thank you goes out to the Cigar Association of Washington, the retail group in orchestrating the retailers' opposition to HB1246. And thank you to the Cigar Association of America and our industry friends on their efforts to ensure HB1246 failed to be approved.
NEVER, never let anyone tell you direct action does not work!
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