STG Enough Already, Chicken Little, Or What?

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Zamora

Part of the Furniture Now
Mar 15, 2023
977
2,572
Olympia, Washington
I think it's the sheer numbers of cigar smokers vs effectiveness of group. My wife worked with several lobbyists in Maryland, one represented cigar manufacturers (when MD was increasing their tobacco tax). I asked him if he represented any group that made pipe tobacco. He replied "people still smoke pipes?". So no representation. At that time, many MD legislators smoked cigars, I never met one who smoked a pipe. Those guys had a stake. We're on our own.
I had a similar conversation with the owner of my local B&M. It's very cigar focused but they do sell pipes and a decent selection of bulks and not just aromatic. Here in Washington we have an outrageous 95% tax on pipe tobacco but cigars are capped at 65 cents a stick (in my opinion that's entirely reasonable). You also can't order pipe tobacco online but it's totally okay to order cigars. I asked him why there was such a dramatic difference and he said it's because there are far more cigar smokers so there's going to be far more pushback, he said a lot of our legislators smoke them and in fact then Governor Inslee was a customer of the shop.
I think the UPCA is just about non-existent these days? I assume they have no funding, engaging a lobbyist takes a lot of cash. Thats where the cigar lobby wins.
I'm not sure what the UPCA is but there is the Pipe Tobacco Council, Leonard recently talked about his involvement with them. They managed to get the flavored ban off the table but unlike the CRA haven't been able to get the FDA to drop the "no blends after 2007" bullshit. The PTC seems to be backed by Laudisi and STG but I'm sure STG invests far more money into the cigar and cigarette lobbies.
 
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Zamora

Part of the Furniture Now
Mar 15, 2023
977
2,572
Olympia, Washington
It seems like a natural fit that would make both groups stronger.
Yeah I don't understand why the cigar lobbyists are so indifferent to pipe smoking. It seems most people who smoke pipes also smoke cigars (though not the other way around) and both industries are targeted by the same bullshit. From what I've seen countries like Australia and Canada are just as bad to both
 

Pipe & a walk

Lurker
Nov 20, 2024
27
39
Here in Washington we have an outrageous 95% tax on pipe tobacco but cigars are capped at 65 cents a stick (in my opinion that's entirely reasonable). You also can't order pipe tobacco online but it's totally okay to order cigars. I asked him why there was such a dramatic difference and he said it's because there are far more cigar smokers so there's going to be far more pushback, he said a lot of our legislators smoke them and in fact then Governor Inslee was a customer of the shop.
That's infuriating to hear! The arguments for cigars and pipe tobacco are the same(as far as I know), so how could law makers justify such different laws for each?

In Canada all tobacco get's lumped together. Which, while aggravating, is at least consistent.
 

Mike N

Part of the Furniture Now
Aug 3, 2023
665
3,731
Northern Panhandle of West Virginia
I'm not sure what the UPCA is…
The UPCA is the United Pipe Clubs of America. One of its officers, Andre, posts here. Andre is a major presence at the Chicago Pipe Show and runs the slow smoke contest. They have a virtual on-line meet-up and send a contestant to Europe to compete in its slow smoke. I bought a pipe last year the UPCA sells to raise funds.

Here is a link to one of Andre’s threads:

 

NookersTheCat

Starting to Get Obsessed
Sep 10, 2020
265
899
NEPA
That's infuriating to hear! The arguments for cigars and pipe tobacco are the same(as far as I know), so how could law makers justify such different laws for each?

In Canada all tobacco get's lumped together. Which, while aggravating, is at least consistent.
I think it also has alot to do with the fact that a significant amount of pipe tobacco is actually RYO tobacco and lawmakers don't give a flying crankshaft about health but tax evasion is top of their concern.

Walk into your average convenient store and take a look at what most pipe tobacco is on offer today.
462841641_2843534939143155_5410217710727220627_n.jpg
 
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WirelessSmoke

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jul 14, 2024
287
3,442
New England
I could have used a softer tone, but the snowball effect of likes and "spot on's" called for something stiff.

Not sure what you thought the harder tone would accomplish, but there's been a few more likes since your post last night. You may not have cared for the tactic he used, but it did drive home his point regardless....
 

Pooh-Bah

Part of the Furniture Now
Apr 21, 2023
532
4,966
32
Central Maryland
I think it's the sheer numbers of cigar smokers vs effectiveness of group. My wife worked with several lobbyists in Maryland, one represented cigar manufacturers (when MD was increasing their tobacco tax). I asked him if he represented any group that made pipe tobacco. He replied "people still smoke pipes?". So no representation. At that time, many MD legislators smoked cigars, I never met one who smoked a pipe. Those guys had a stake. We're on our own.
So what you're saying is that us pipeists need to (shudder) put on suits and get elected to public office?
 
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Pipe & a walk

Lurker
Nov 20, 2024
27
39
You may not have cared for the tactic he used, but it did drive home his point regardless....
Better yet, what was "the tactic he used"? Would you agree that it was relative privation?
Your telling me you don't actually know? I figured you must have known before replying twice to the post.
My point is that he has no legitimate point.

One can always make the claim that anyone's concerns short of dying are trivial compared to the suffering of others as a means of shutting down conversation and making yourself feel superior.

Now, if I went on a forum dedicated to the topic of solving world hunger and started complaining about STG buying MacBaren and discontinuing Per Jensen's Pipe Force tobacco blends then I would expect to scolded for caring about such relatively trivial matters.

But to scold people for making such statements here is ridiculous.

I'm pointing out that the emperor has no clothes and if people still want to claim that he's wearing beautiful clothes with their 'likes' then it's up for each individual to use their own sense making apparatus to determine what they agree with.
 

WirelessSmoke

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jul 14, 2024
287
3,442
New England
Better yet, what was "the tactic he used"? Would you agree that it was relative privation?

My point is that he has no legitimate point.

One can always make the claim that anyone's concerns short of dying are trivial compared to the suffering of others as a means of shutting down conversation and making yourself feel superior.

Now, if I went on a forum dedicated to the topic of solving world hunger and started complaining about STG buying MacBaren and discontinuing Per Jensen's Pipe Force tobacco blends then I would expect to scolded for caring about such relatively trivial matters.

But to scold people for making such statements here is ridiculous.

I'm pointing out that the emperor has no clothes and if people still want to claim that he's wearing beautiful clothes with their 'likes' then it's up for each individual to use their own sense making apparatus to determine what they agree with.
Fair enough.

I just didn't see it as trying to shut down the conversation or scolding, but just putting an issue into perspective. Going a bit to the extreme I suppose. If indeed it was meant to scold, feel superior, or shut down a conversation then I'd agree with you but I don't believe that was the intent. Regardless I thought it odd to call out those who decided to like the post without knowing why someone liked it.
 

Pipe & a walk

Lurker
Nov 20, 2024
27
39
Fair enough.

I just didn't see it as trying to shut down the conversation or scolding, but just putting an issue into perspective.
I am one of the people who are a bit worked up over this STG fiasco, but I am mindful of the people who are losing their livelihood with the shuttering of Sutliff.

For consumers losing our favorite blends(Seattle Pipe Club, Per Jenson's Pipe Force) we don't need our concerns put into perspective with world hunger, thank you
 
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