Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot has reiterated that he did not intend recently passed legislation banning cigar shipments to apply to high-end cigars, and he has asked General Assembly leaders for permission to not enforce the law with regard to those products.
As previously chronicled, fans of fine cigars got angry over the ban on buying cigars over the Internet, passed in 2010 and effective this year. Franchot, who requested a wider law covering cigars, chewing tobacco and other non-cigarette products, got deluged with complaints last month from people who like to smoke $10 stogies on the golf course.
He quickly said that he didn't intend for the law to cover "premium" cigars and that he would suggest the General Assembly pass an exception for those products. The law was intended to crack down on smuggling of cigars, pipe tobacco etc. and to deter kids from making huge marijuana blunts by hollowing out cheap cigars. But smuggling and sales to minors aren't a big problem with high-end cigars, Franchot says.
Legislators are talking about amending the law in the special legislative session in the fall.
The question then became, Would Franchot's office enforce the new law with regard to premium cigars in the meantime? We now have a partial answer. Here are parts from a letter he sent to House Speaker Mike Busch and Senate President Mike Miller on Monday.
Premium cigars, I have been told, are anything over $2. I'll call Miller's and Busch's offices to see what they say.
As previously chronicled, fans of fine cigars got angry over the ban on buying cigars over the Internet, passed in 2010 and effective this year. Franchot, who requested a wider law covering cigars, chewing tobacco and other non-cigarette products, got deluged with complaints last month from people who like to smoke $10 stogies on the golf course.
He quickly said that he didn't intend for the law to cover "premium" cigars and that he would suggest the General Assembly pass an exception for those products. The law was intended to crack down on smuggling of cigars, pipe tobacco etc. and to deter kids from making huge marijuana blunts by hollowing out cheap cigars. But smuggling and sales to minors aren't a big problem with high-end cigars, Franchot says.
Legislators are talking about amending the law in the special legislative session in the fall.
The question then became, Would Franchot's office enforce the new law with regard to premium cigars in the meantime? We now have a partial answer. Here are parts from a letter he sent to House Speaker Mike Busch and Senate President Mike Miller on Monday.
... it would be my preference to defer any further enforcement activity by my Office until the legislature has an opportunity to take action. Out of deference to the legislative branch,however, I would respectfully request your concurrence with this stay of enforcement.Please keep in mind that this stay of enforcement would only apply to the sale of those products that meet the statutory definition of premium cigars, and it would only remain in effect until the legislature has had an appropriate opportunity to repeal the ban. Should the legislature choose to leave the terms of the current legislation intact, we would act promptly to enforce the letter of the law.
While I recognize that this is an uncommon request, I do believe it is warranted in this particular case.
Premium cigars, I have been told, are anything over $2. I'll call Miller's and Busch's offices to see what they say.
