| 0; And cigar aficionados could use some. With the | | | | Carter nearly normalized US-Cuba relationships (talks |
| economic crisis causing many state legislatures to | | | | foundered over Cuban troops stationed in Africa), |
| consider tobacco tax hikes, smoking bans continuing | | | | and he later expressed regret that he'd scuttled this |
| to gain popular support, and bad stock market news | | | | plan. Republican presidents such as Ford also |
| making us all a little more conscious of the price of | | | | considered the option. The embargo, as these |
| our favorite stogies, we need to hear that something | | | | documents remind us, is not a fact of nature. |
| is going right in the little world of those who love | | | | And as Castro ages, even hard-line anti-Castroists in |
| premium cigars. So, without further ado, here are | | | | the US Congress are beginning to reconsider the |
| some recent developments in the world of cigars | | | | effectiveness of a policy that, after all, has never |
| that smokers can take to heart. | | | | succeeded in its announced objectives. And as this |
| 1. Smoking bans may be getting more popular--but | | | | article goes to print, President Obama has just signed |
| they're also getting more reasonable and flexible. | | | | into law an omnibus spending bill that includes several |
| More and more existing public-smoking smoking bans | | | | little-noticed policy changes toward Cuba. |
| are being modified, and new bans being written, so | | | | Cuban-Americans are now allowed yearly visits to the |
| as to include clear exemptions to the laws, so that | | | | island (they were previously limited to one visit every |
| cigar lovers are still allowed to light up in some bars, | | | | third year), and restrictions on business travel have |
| cigar lounges, casinos, or other places, depending on | | | | also been somewhat eased. Is this a step toward |
| local policies. For an example, look no further than | | | | free trade with Cuba? With a major inter-American |
| Laguna Beach--yes, the same Laguna Beach that | | | | summit looming in April, many observers are |
| passed one of the toughest anti-smoking laws in the | | | | wondering whether Obama may be planning to |
| country back in 1993. The local City Council has | | | | announce further liberalization. |
| recently decided to start allowing smoking again at | | | | 3. Another sign that lawmakers have grown a bit |
| tobacco shops and lounges. This is good news for | | | | more sympathetic to smokers, despite budget |
| those who love to have a smoke with like-minded | | | | squeezes that make users of tobacco and other |
| cigar lovers, and it's also good news for area tobacco | | | | "nonessentials" an attractive possible source of |
| shops, which can now offer customers just such an | | | | revenue, comes from Maryland. This state's cigar-sale |
| experience (and reap the benefits in increased | | | | restrictions were among the toughest in the country; |
| customer interest, retention, and loyalty). Nebraska is | | | | most notably, they don't allow the purchase of single |
| considering such an exception to its own smoking | | | | cigars. That's right: you can buy boxes, but not cigars. |
| ban, | | | | The rationale for this odd law, which passed in |
| And in any case, the tendency toward greater | | | | November of 2008? Well, the local constabulary were |
| regulation of public smoking isn't universal. North | | | | worried that high school kids would use hollowed-out |
| Dakota's state colleges and universities have just (as | | | | single cigars to smoke marijuana. So the state |
| of mid-March) rejected a proposed smoking ban. | | | | legislature banned the sale of single cigars. |
| 2. The Cuba embargo, which has prevented access | | | | Aside from the fact that, on the same logical |
| to high-quality Cuban smokes since 1962, may just be | | | | grounds, you could justify banning just about any |
| headed for the chopping block. The magazine Cigar | | | | form of cigar or cigarette--as well as hollow |
| Aficionado devoted its January 2009 cover story to | | | | tube-shaped objects generally--this goofy law has |
| arguing for a more nuanced trade relationship | | | | faced challenges on constitutional grounds. The state |
| between the United States and Cuba. | | | | legislature, facing lawsuits, is looking at getting rid of |
| Recently-declassified documents show the US making | | | | the restriction on single-cigar sales. Chalk up another |
| repeated overtures to Cuba and vice versa, and this | | | | victory for common sense. |
| newly-available history gives policymakers a map for | | | | 4. Recession or not, tasty is still tasty. |
| future negotiations. In 1977, for example, Jimmy | | | | |