Colorado HB 1064, a bill that would have prohibited the sale of flavored tobacco products, including cigars and pipe tobacco, failed to pass through the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday. The bill failed on a 2 to 5 vote. The bill also would have prohibited the sale of flavored cigarettes, and vapor and flavored products containing nicotine.
Since the Colorado legislative session is set to end today, HB 1064’s failure to pass the Senate Appropriations Committee means that the flavor ban bill is dead for the 2022 legislative year.
The Cigar Association of America opposes restrictions on the sale of flavored cigars and pipe tobacco to adult consumers. CAA Vice President of State Relations Chris Newbry worked diligently with a coalition of industry partners to defeat the bill.
Mr. Newbry noted that, “We were able to show legislators that, while proponents of HB 1064 had good intentions, few young people today smoke cigars and government data show that youth usage of flavored cigars is only 0.6%. The numbers for pipe tobacco are even lower.”
Because of low usage rates among youth, a ban on flavored cigars and pipe tobacco would have little or no impact on youth tobacco usage. However, eliminating flavored cigar sales would have a negative economic impact on the many retailers, manufacturers and suppliers that sell and market flavored cigars and pipe tobacco. It would also deprive adult consumers of a legal product.
CAA President David Ozgo said, “Our member companies and the many retailers that sell cigars work diligently to keep cigars out of the hands of the underage. However, we believe that adult consumers should be treated like adults and should be allowed access to the cigar of their choice.”
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