Good News for Washington State Pipe Smokers
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Kevin Godbee - May 6, 2011
- 1 min read
Washington State has some of the most restrictive tobacco laws. Internet sales are banned, no indoor smoking is allowed anywhere, not even in a tobacconist, and they have proposals to ban all flavored tobacco, and for it to be illegal to smoke in your car if minors are present. Today, Washingtonian pipe and cigar smokers got some good news for once.
State lawmakers are looking to ease Washington’s strict smoking ban by allowing cigar and pipe smoking for a limited number of tobacco retailers.
A key Senate committee approved a bill Thursday that would permit up to 100 cigar lounges and 500 retail tobacco shops to allow smoking. Cigarettes would still be banned.
Businesses would have to pay annual fees of $17,500 to obtain cigar lounge endorsements and $6,000 to obtain tobacco store endorsements. Supporters say the bill could help some local businesses hurt by the smoking ban that voters approved in 2005.
Critics say the measure threatens the health of employees and the public. The bill approved by the Senate Ways and Means Committee requires employees to sign acknowledgements accepting that tobacco smoke might be present in their workplace.
The Seattle Pipe Club’s Gary B. Schrier, Bob Ramstad, and Matt Guss vigorously lobbied to make this happen, as did Stacy Thrasher of F. K. Kirsten Pipe Co. in Seattle, and Jeff Packer, Owner of Tinderbox in Tacoma WA.
All Washington State pipe and cigar smokers should thank them.
Hopefully, they will get lucky and and overturn the Internet sales ban and defeat the other asinine proposals as well.
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Written by Kevin Godbee
8 Responses
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AMAZING NEWS!
Pipe and cigar smokers should patronise those shops to help them pay for the endorsements and smoke diligently there to make it public that smoking is a choice everyone should have (has) and that requires awareness of the choice. Why are there no children suing the gov’t for attempting to withhold the existence of one of their future personal freedoms? It’s an abuse of power to indirectly keep us from smoking. If I were a US citizen, I would!
I think that’s a little ridiculous honestly. I get the need for revenue but I saw this post on BOTL recently and it made me ask, are B&M shops really making enough money to not only pay all the state taxes and government BS but now a $17,500 fee so they can allow patrons to smoke?
I DO like the cigarette ban part of it though.
I guess the “science” upon which the initial bans were predicated doesn’t mean squat if there’s a way to generate more revenue for the state.
The only thing ridiculous is the situation to start with: That you may not smoke in private venues. It’s perverted to charge a sum for an unquantifiable amount of smoke, but it’s manageable. 17500 means that you have to pay about 1500 a month for a cigar lounge, or 50 a day. Smokers who benefit – and they definitely should – from the lounge should consider it an alternative to going to a bar or to the cinema and whatever they may be doing after church. Normal stores may struggle a bit but they have the choice.
Congratulations to Matt and Gary. Very well done!
I’m glad these options are now open, but what troubles me is once again the nanny state charging fees and taxes to ‘permit’ us to what by nature is already our right. I’m afraid I must be getting old and cranky, because I fear how things are first outlawed, then once again ‘given’ to us, assuming we pay through the nose. . .
I am, however, happy Washington State pipe smokers may practice their rights more freely! Congrats!
“Businesses would have to pay annual fees of $17,500 to obtain cigar lounge endorsements and $6,000 to obtain tobacco store endorsements. Supporters say the bill could help some local businesses hurt by the smoking ban that voters approved in 2005.”
Jesus Christ! THIS is a “solution”??
I’m sure some B&Ms don’t net $23,500 a year as it is. Now, for a “license” to allow patrons to smoke on your own premises?