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Pennsylvania House Bill 1309 Would Ban Smoking in Cigar Stores Statewide
May 24th, 2017Cigar Bars, Private Clubs, and Casinos, Among Other Venues Would Also Be Affected
Earlier this month, in a blatant example of extreme overreach, Pennsylvania State Representative Matthew Baker and 17 other colleagues introduced House Bill 1309 to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, which would prohibit smoking in premium cigar retail stores, cigar bars, private clubs, casinos and all other indoor businesses and venues throughout the state.
If passed, HB-1309 would take the Pennsylvania Clean Indoor Air Act to draconian levels. The language in the bill calls for the removal of all exemptions for businesses that have been granted permission to permit indoor smoking under the current law.
Until now, Pennsylvania has been one of the more benevolent states with regard to granting indoor smoking permits. The state is home to dozens of cigar shops, including several of the nation’s leading online cigar retailers.
“HB-1309 represents an unprecedented attack on your ability to enjoy a premium cigar in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and must be defeated,” said Glynn Loope, Executive Director of Cigar Rights of America. Loope is encouraging Pennsylvania residents to take action by contacting their respective representatives and demand that they stop the bill in its tracks.
Businesses like Famous Smoke Shop-PA, Inc., an online premium cigar retailer which has a cigar store on its premises and also owns Leaf Restaurant & Cigar Bar, would be hit the hardest should Rep. Baker see the bill through to signage.
“Most cigar smokers don’t smoke in their homes, so they look forward to having a place where they can go to smoke without any restrictions,” said Tracy Resetar, Director of Restaurant & Retail Operations for Famous Smoke Shop. “I don’t even want to think about what would happen if this bill was passed.”