California SB 793 Update

[litup]

We previously discussed this bill in this thread which is now closed for further comments.

I just learned from someone that was working in support of this bill l that the language was amended by the Health Committee to exclude premium cigars and pipe tobacco!!! The updated language has not been published yet but I will share it when it hits the leginfo site. The bill's next stop is Assembly Appropriations and then the Assembly Floor.

Still excluded by the bill language would be e-cigs, menthol cigarettes, and little cigars like Swisher Sweets.

 

[BROBS]

We previously discussed this bill in this thread which is now closed for further comments.

I just learned from someone that was working in support of this bill l that the language was amended by the Health Committee to exclude premium cigars and pipe tobacco!!! The updated language has not been published yet but I will share it when it hits the leginfo site. The bill's next stop is Assembly Appropriations and then the Assembly Floor.

Still excluded by the bill language would be e-cigs, menthol cigarettes, and little cigars like Swisher Sweets.

Well that’s good for you guys. ?

 

[Casual]

Good news? Am I in the right timeline? It’s 2020 here, right? The Covid thing is still going?

 

[wolflarsen]

Fantastic news! Thanks for the update.

 

[americaman]

I thought flavored cigarettes were already banned here. Or maybe Camel simply stopped making them.

 

[spicy_boiii]

This is awesome news and I appreciate the update???

Gives me time to pick up some of the Gawith aros I've never tried.

I think ol Jerry Hill has been desperate to get some form of this bill passed after it lost steam in its previous iteration.

 

[litup]

The language of the bill has been updated and can be found here: SB 793

Here's the key points for pipe smokers in California:

Definition of pipe tobacco in the bill: “Loose leaf tobacco” consists of cut or shredded pipe tobacco, usually sold in pouches, excluding any tobacco product which, because of its appearance, type, packaging, or labeling, is suitable for use and likely to be offered to, or purchased by, consumers as tobacco for making cigarettes, including roll-your-own cigarettes.

What the bill restricts: (b) (1) A tobacco retailer, or any of the tobacco retailer’s agents or employees, shall not sell, offer for sale, or possess with the intent to sell or offer for sale, a flavored tobacco product or a tobacco product flavor enhancer.

Exemption for pipe tobacco and premium cigars:
(d) Subdivision (b) does not apply to sales of premium cigars sold in cigar lounges where products are purchased and consumed only on the premises.
(e) Subdivision (b) does not apply to loose leaf tobacco or premium cigars.

 

[lawdawg]

California and New York both more or less serve as breeding grounds for new pieces of legislation that are later adopted by other states as well. In that regard, this is excellent news, and gives some indication that those in charge of such issues might be willing to carve out exceptions for pipe tobacco in these many new pieces of legislation.

 

[Sethology]

Wow, this is honestly really refreshing. Never figured id have cause for hope in all of this tobacco legislation nonsense. Makes a man wanna slow down on his cellaring lol

 

[brian64]

California and New York both more or less serve as breeding grounds for new pieces of legislation that are later adopted by other states as well.

They serve as breeding grounds for all kinds of things.

 

[dontbeaburleyman]

The governor signed this into law on Friday (8/28). Premium cigars (over $12), pipe tobacco and shisha have been spared--until the next time. Takes effect January 1.

Meanwhile, flavored marijuana sales will continue unabated.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

The governor signed this into law on Friday (8/28). Premium cigars (over $12), pipe tobacco and shisha have been spared--until the next time. Takes effect January 1.

Meanwhile, flavored marijuana sales will continue unabated.

Makes you shake your head..

 

[canucklehead]

The governor signed this into law on Friday (8/28). Premium cigars (over $12), pipe tobacco and shisha have been spared--until the next time. Takes effect January 1.

Meanwhile, flavored marijuana sales will continue unabated.

I've never heard of flavoured weed, does that actually exist?

Do any $12+ flavoured cigars exist?

 

[lawdawg]

The high price tag they are putting on "premium" cigars is obnoxious. There are plenty of very good hand rolled cigars for around $7 or $8. That would be a much more realistic price point if they want to carve out a "premium" exception. Hell, $6 is probably the real point that cigars start becoming premium.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

I've never heard of flavoured weed, does that actually exist?

Do any $12+ flavoured cigars exist?

Well now we know how much Grape White Owl's will cost in California.

But hell yes on the flavored weed.. They make gummie bears and orange soda out of weed. Tons of flavors.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

I've never heard of flavoured weed, does that actually exist?

Do any $12+ flavoured cigars exist?

Acid’s flavored cigars are probably in that price range. Been a while since I bought any cigars though, so I may be wrong.

 

[mso489]

No telling what circuitous process cause this change. You'd hope it might some logic that could carry over to other places.

 

[sablebrush52]

Meanwhile, flavored marijuana sales will continue unabated.

Wow! Never heard of flavored boo sales. People are really inventive when it comes to making a buck.

 

[sablebrush52]

Well now we know how much Grape White Owl's will cost in California.

But hell yes on the flavored weed.. They make gummie bears and orange soda out of weed. Tons of flavors.

Gummie bears I knew about, but I'm thinking that a more apt comparison would be topping leaf with flavorings, and selling flavored leaf, and that I've never heard of.

In any event, comparing tobacco to mary jane is a specious argument, not to mention a false equivalency, since it's comparing apples to oranges. Besides, the era of legal boo is brand new. As the side effects of marijuana become better known, just as the side effects of tobacco have become better known, expect some regulatory tightening over marijuana usage as well.

 

[litup]

I'll be curious to see if they amend the language as time passes to raise the $ threshold. With inflation (low though it is) and ever-increasing tobacco taxes, it seems like it won't be that long before those $8 cigars are $12 cigars.