Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot has reiterated that he did not intend recently passed legislation banning cigar shipments to apply to high-end cigars, and he has asked General Assembly leaders for permission to not enforce the law with regard to those products.
As previously chronicled, fans of fine cigars got angry over the ban on buying cigars over the Internet, passed in 2010 and effective this year. Franchot, who requested a wider law covering cigars, chewing tobacco and other non-cigarette products, got deluged with complaints last month from people who like to smoke $10 stogies on the golf course.
He quickly said that he didn't intend for the law to cover "premium" cigars and that he would suggest the General Assembly pass an exception for those products. The law was intended to crack down on smuggling of cigars, pipe tobacco etc. and to deter kids from making huge marijuana blunts by hollowing out cheap cigars. But smuggling and sales to minors aren't a big problem with high-end cigars, Franchot says.
Legislators are talking about amending the law in the special legislative session in the fall.
The question then became, Would Franchot's office enforce the new law with regard to premium cigars in the meantime? We now have a partial answer. Here are parts from a letter he sent to House Speaker Mike Busch and Senate President Mike Miller on Monday.
Premium cigars, I have been told, are anything over $2. I'll call Miller's and Busch's offices to see what they say.
As previously chronicled, fans of fine cigars got angry over the ban on buying cigars over the Internet, passed in 2010 and effective this year. Franchot, who requested a wider law covering cigars, chewing tobacco and other non-cigarette products, got deluged with complaints last month from people who like to smoke $10 stogies on the golf course.
He quickly said that he didn't intend for the law to cover "premium" cigars and that he would suggest the General Assembly pass an exception for those products. The law was intended to crack down on smuggling of cigars, pipe tobacco etc. and to deter kids from making huge marijuana blunts by hollowing out cheap cigars. But smuggling and sales to minors aren't a big problem with high-end cigars, Franchot says.
Legislators are talking about amending the law in the special legislative session in the fall.
The question then became, Would Franchot's office enforce the new law with regard to premium cigars in the meantime? We now have a partial answer. Here are parts from a letter he sent to House Speaker Mike Busch and Senate President Mike Miller on Monday.
... it would be my preference to defer any further enforcement activity by my Office until the legislature has an opportunity to take action. Out of deference to the legislative branch,however, I would respectfully request your concurrence with this stay of enforcement.Please keep in mind that this stay of enforcement would only apply to the sale of those products that meet the statutory definition of premium cigars, and it would only remain in effect until the legislature has had an appropriate opportunity to repeal the ban. Should the legislature choose to leave the terms of the current legislation intact, we would act promptly to enforce the letter of the law.
While I recognize that this is an uncommon request, I do believe it is warranted in this particular case.
Premium cigars, I have been told, are anything over $2. I'll call Miller's and Busch's offices to see what they say.
Tax the rich, then give them a bye on paying. That gets the law passed, and only hurts the poor.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!
Oh. I get it. Penalize the guy on the street smoking cheap tobacco but not the rich guy (that can afford PREMIUM. Does that mean that speeding BMWs get ignored while KIA drivers get pulled over?
ReplyDeleteI suppose that makes Franchot an elitist.
Franchot is ridiculous -- he should enforce the law whether he likes it or not -- or resign. Let those who crave top dollar cigars pay the piper in advance for the health care cost they will want the rest of us to pay for them in the future.
ReplyDeleteDUH.. another example of the shining incompetence we have running this state...maryland is so dumb. in fact it has to be the most inept run state in the US..They lost money after raising tabacco taxes, DUH,..as the masses bought their smoke in other states or just quit. Now since his golfing buddies cant enjoy their Cubans. He says he intended to stop those dam cheap blunts rollers..what a joke..BLUNTS what a joke..does'nt he know they use blunt raps now, the new rolling papers...GEESH.. see how out of touch these idiots are. Dont they know POT is bigger then CORN..Legalize POT and tax that you morons....just wait to you start hearing how the booze tax projections on the revenues from achohol blow's up in thier faces.....just wait, you'll see.....and of course, yesterdays news bout missing years of gambling revenue, letting all the surronding states beat MORONALAND to gambling revenues. What do they expect..they TAX..we buy, do our fun and bussiness anywhere but in MD or just move..But in MORONALAND we have maryland DUMBOCRATS who are blind, stupid and inept.
ReplyDeleteoh whatever
ReplyDeletewho cares what ya suck on and how much it costs
rednecks and cigars are the most pretentious they should stick to dipping snuff
I thought only rednecks were bigots. Apparently 11:12 have some issues of their own.
ReplyDelete