Hawaii Bans Online Tobacco Sales: SHTF Scenario

[Ahi Ka]

I was editing over my reply, look at the last comment, about a consumer paying tax.

What do you mean by increasing tobacco sent to Hawaii?

P.S. How things going mate?

For example, look 8 posts back further up this thread

Yeah I saw that about consumer tax, which would probably be applied by the likes of SPC (or whichever online vendor gets a GE) at checkout.

As always curiously watching the entertainment from the bench seats. Enjoying the emotional rollercoaster.

 

[PipeIT]

For example, look 8 posts back further up this thread

Yeah I saw that about consumer tax, which would probably be applied by the likes of SPC (or whichever online vendor gets a GE) at checkout.

As always curiously watching the entertainment from the bench seats. Enjoying the emotional rollercoaster.

Hey, you didn’t answer my question LOL How ya doing mate?

I went back 8 posts, hmm, still not sure which one you referring to?

 

[Pipeh]

Hey, you didn’t answer my question LOL How ya doing mate?

I went back 8 posts, hmm, still not sure which one you referring to?

I think he was referring to the large orders that people were making before the deadline, like MaukaMan's haul.

 

[Ahi Ka]

Hey, you didn’t answer my question LOL How ya doing mate?

I went back 8 posts, hmm, still not sure which one you referring to?

Haha well it was 8 posts when I counted. But yeah what pipeh said.

How am I doing? I’ve been better, but got the fire going so the family is warm, gonna step out and smoke some ODF and sweep leaves.

 

[PipeIT]

Haha well it was 8 posts when I counted. But yeah what pipeh said.

How am I doing? I’ve been better, but got the fire going so the family is warm, gonna step out and smoke some ODF and sweep leaves.

View attachment 231785

Me, doing good, yeah Winter for you down below, so been quite chilly?

Hang tough mate! Aloha!

 

[PipeIT]

I just got off the phone today, and spoke to one of the heads of the Tax Department.

Fact, tobacco is not illegal to ship to Hawaii.

A business in the Continental USA, needs a GE & Tobacco License.

GE is $20 a year and Tobacco License $50 a year.

Also, a consumer can file a yearly M110 form, and pay the taxes on their end. If a consumer files the M110, then a business does not have to get a GE and Tax License if they want to leave it up to consumers.

 

[PipeIT]

@mike wheelock tobacco is not banned, people have only been confused about the new law, read what I posted.

Post #86 & #106

 

[PipeIT]

Actually there was more info I found out later needed by businesses, follow up on page 6 post #115 onwards.

https://pipesmagazine.com/forums/threads/hawai’i-ban-on-shipping.98942/page-6

 

[Cyxelsid]

A great example of a community coming together to solve a problem! Well done!

 

[OverMountain]

I just posted this reply under the Tobacco Legislation for Hawaii as well, good news!

Hawaii Ban on Shipping
—————————————

On the link from the Electronic Smoking Device Retailer Registration Unit I posted above, I called them, and they told me to speak with the Taxation Office.

This is the Hawaii Taxation Department’s telephone number and website.

https://hitax.hawaii.gov/_/

(808) 587-4242 - Prompt #4

The Hawaii Taxation Department told me, for any online retailer in the USA, even without a physical location, to apply for a GE License for an Out of State Online Retailer.

I was told, yes, any business in any state with a Hawaii GE License can now legally ship to Hawaii!

So this is all a political brownie points paper drill?

 

[OverMountain]

I say again, pipes and cigars bring men together, which is a undesirable feature of the culture to “some”.

Remember when fireworks were banned in HI a few years ago? Make that tobacco.

 

[PipeIT]

So this is all a political brownie points paper drill?

There’s a little more info I posted above on #108.

I don’t know what this is, I’ve been told, it’s simply there were no Vape laws in the past, and they wanted it now regulated like tobacco, and then include getting licenses and paying the fees just like a local business to do business also out of state.

On the subject of fireworks, I’m aware, supposedly now, you pay a small fireworks permit fee, or they just seem to be letting people on like New Years and the 4th of July light them off as usual.

 

[fireground_piper]

So this is all a political brownie points paper drill?

They probably realized they were missing out on a lot of excise money so closed the loop.

 

[MaukaMan]

this is in reply to maukaman. feel your pain brother. i live in washington which has banned online sales of tobacco. another example of our government helping us in our greatest need!!!!! dont know how we would ever get along without them. anyhow i started ordering online and shipping to my brother in idaho. he sends it to me via usps or i pick it up from him. hope this isnt against forum rules but this seems to be an urgent issue....you might also try ordering from 4 noggins...enough said on that suggestion. good luck to you.

You suggestion did the trick. Had a couple more blends I wanted. Thanks for the tip!

 

[krizzose]

Get some bulk. 10lbs of Stokkebye LNF won’t hurt

 

[NotGlenMiyashiro]

"if a business doesn’t have a GE, a consumer is suppose to then be able to pay yearly taxes on their purchases, also making it legal to ship this way."

This was my understanding as well. After reading the bill and related articles it appears to me that the legislators' attitude is "Tobacco is evil and you're killing everyone in the world if you smoke, but if you do smoke we are going to make sure we get $$$$." Even in politics it's the bottom line.

The problem is, when you call the state agency and tell them, "Hello, I'd like to comply with your law and pay the extortionate 70% tax on some pipe tobacco" you're going to get the "You need to call some other office- sorry." Or, "I don't know anything about that."

The other problem is finding a shipper who is willing to ship even if you are ready, willing and able to do it legally.

 

[NotGlenMiyashiro]

I just got off the phone today, and spoke to one of the heads of the Tax Department.

Fact, tobacco is not illegal to ship to Hawaii.

A business in the Continental USA, needs a GE & Tobacco License.

GE is $20 a year and Tobacco License $50 a year.

Also, a consumer can file a yearly M110 form, and pay the taxes on their end. If a consumer files the M110, then a business does not have to get a GE and Tax License if they want to leave it up to consumers.

Thanks for doing the leg work. From the M110 instruction sheet: "For example, if you are an individual and you buy cigarettes or tobacco products online or through a catalog from an unlicensed seller located outside of Hawaii and import those products into Hawaii for your own use, then you are required to report and pay the cigarette and tobacco taxes on those products."

Do you think any online sellers will be willing? The sites I have looked at have large font "We do not ship tobacco products to Hawaii."

 

[PipeIT]

All I know is, moving forward, the most important thing now according to CRA;

The #1 Cigar Rights Advocates for Consumers - Cigar Rights

Cigar Rights of America (CRA) is the only consumer-based public advocacy group fighting to protect the rights to enjoy premium cigars.

cigarrights.org

The main reason why cigars and pipe tobacco can’t be legally shipped, is supposedly Legislation didn’t get the Tax worked out on these items, when the Vape Law went active, so it became illegal to ship them.

CRA believes because of this, shipping to Hawaii should be hopefully legal again next year.

 

[NotGlenMiyashiro]

All I know is, moving forward, the most important thing now according to CRA;

The #1 Cigar Rights Advocates for Consumers - Cigar Rights

Cigar Rights of America (CRA) is the only consumer-based public advocacy group fighting to protect the rights to enjoy premium cigars.

cigarrights.org

The main reason why cigars and pipe tobacco can’t be legally shipped, is supposedly Legislation didn’t get the Tax worked out on these items, when the Vape Law went active, so it became illegal to ship them.

CRA believes because of this, shipping to Hawaii should be hopefully legal again next year.

Thanks for the update and thanks for informing me about CRA.

 

[menpachiman]

Am 71 yrs old. Local boy (was boy, now old man) living on mainland for 40yrs and recently retired to Hawaii. I have collected tobacco for over 15 years thanks to lurking on this site all that time (and more). I shipped back, about $2.5K (maybe more) of tobacco when I moved back. All sorts: whole leaf (cigar), aromatics, many bags of bulk blends, cigars, GH, SG FVF, St James, Dan tobacco, plus others that I forgot. I blended my own, as well as smoking known blends. I may not live long enough to smoke it all (maybe 10 yrs, unsure). I have not been on this forum long enough nor posted enough to trade, sell or give away.

Growing tobacco:
Tobacco grows well in Hawaii. I grew a few plants (my brother-in-law and friend grew them since I vacationed then returned to mainland).
I bought some cured Filipino toscano from friends who had aunties who smoked Filipino cigars.
I am sure you can grow whatever you want. Top and remove suckers for best results. Toscano is a single blend usually of wrapper leaves or whatever leaves.

Curing tobacco:
Probably the most difficult. But maybe simple. String it up to dry it up. If too much rain then mold might occur. I had problems with mold but you might have better techniques. Maybe cure on leeward side (drier side if you know someone.

Whole leaf:
Recent shipping went through. Was prepared to have it confiscated. Am going to try making FVF using virginia sweet from leaf only. Ordered more seco and ligero for cigars plus what I shipped back. I like stronger cigars.

If whole leaf is banned, then I will buy seeds to grow and cure my own. Do I really need to? No, it is just for fun, I have enough stash. If online seeds are banned then I will get seeds from Filipino friends for toscano cigars.