City Council considers tobacco bills
Peter Sicher
"The cigar bill was approved by the committee [but] it was held up for a week," Clarke said.
"We had a lot of people absent last night. I'm not sure there were enough votes to get it off of second reader."
The cigar bill bans the sale of any individual cigars that cost less than $2.50.
The flavored wrapping paper ban would exempt vending machines because the state of Maryland has authority over them, not the city of Baltimore.
Both bills also will exempt any store that, "derives at least 75% of its revenue...from the sale of non-cigarette tobacco products."
The bill provides for, "a fine of not more than $150 for each offense."
Each wrapper would be considered a separate offense.
If a store violates the proposed cigar bill more than once in two years, it would lose its food license for up to 14 days.
If it violates the bill three times in a 24 month period, the Health Commissioner may suspend the facility's food service license for up to 30 days.
"[Youth smoking in Baltimore] is as bad as anywhere. I don't think it's worse. It's a national problem," Clarke said.
The IGTC has found that in Baltimore, more than 50 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 24 smoke.
"The laws are a way to begin addressing these issue," Stillman said.
However she believes that, "They need to make this an integrated issue addressed from lots of viewpoints."
"Its not just about youths. Youths imitate adults. You have to get adults to stop smoking," she said.
Baltimore already bans the sale of individual cigarettes. However, according to Stillman, "Enforcement is an issue."
Baltimore also already bans secondhand smoking in most public places.
"We've banned smoking everywhere," Clarke said.
"The second hand smoke policy is very effective," said Stillman.
Clarke is confident that both bills will pass.
"I'm sure we'll enact the cigar bill. I think the debate is on the size of packages that will be allowed. I think the bill as written says no fewer than five cigars must be in a pack," she said.
"The lobbyists are trying to say go to four or three. I'm ready to go to five."
Employees at both Uni-Mini and the 7-11 on North Charles Street refused to comment, although 7-11 does sell flavored wrapping paper.
"We had a lot of people absent last night. I'm not sure there were enough votes to get it off of second reader."
The cigar bill bans the sale of any individual cigars that cost less than $2.50.
The flavored wrapping paper ban would exempt vending machines because the state of Maryland has authority over them, not the city of Baltimore.
Both bills also will exempt any store that, "derives at least 75% of its revenue...from the sale of non-cigarette tobacco products."
The bill provides for, "a fine of not more than $150 for each offense."
Each wrapper would be considered a separate offense.
If a store violates the proposed cigar bill more than once in two years, it would lose its food license for up to 14 days.
If it violates the bill three times in a 24 month period, the Health Commissioner may suspend the facility's food service license for up to 30 days.
"[Youth smoking in Baltimore] is as bad as anywhere. I don't think it's worse. It's a national problem," Clarke said.
The IGTC has found that in Baltimore, more than 50 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 24 smoke.
"The laws are a way to begin addressing these issue," Stillman said.
However she believes that, "They need to make this an integrated issue addressed from lots of viewpoints."
"Its not just about youths. Youths imitate adults. You have to get adults to stop smoking," she said.
Baltimore already bans the sale of individual cigarettes. However, according to Stillman, "Enforcement is an issue."
Baltimore also already bans secondhand smoking in most public places.
"We've banned smoking everywhere," Clarke said.
"The second hand smoke policy is very effective," said Stillman.
Clarke is confident that both bills will pass.
"I'm sure we'll enact the cigar bill. I think the debate is on the size of packages that will be allowed. I think the bill as written says no fewer than five cigars must be in a pack," she said.
"The lobbyists are trying to say go to four or three. I'm ready to go to five."
Employees at both Uni-Mini and the 7-11 on North Charles Street refused to comment, although 7-11 does sell flavored wrapping paper.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Alex W.
posted 10/12/09 @ 7:47 AM EST
While I have no trouble with legislation to reduce the marketing of tobacco to kids, the "single cigar" provision makes me go "What the ...?"
Cigar smokers are a tiny minority even among tobacco users, and the number of kids smoking cigars is tiny to the point of statistical irrelevance. (Continued…)
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