Recently introduced House Bill 2071 is yet another attempt by the leaders in the State of Oregon to legislate their ideals of morality and health onto the citizens of the state. HB 2071 is riddled with legislative changes that give other overreaching lawmakers the power to enact draconian laws and try to eliminate a legal product at the local level.

Tobacco users have already experienced an increase in taxes on the products that they consume under the guise of "protecting the children" from the evils of smoking. Despite the measure being advertised as a way to tax "products targeting children" such as vape, other forms of tobacco that are almost exclusively used by older adults were also lumped into the bill. The smoking of premium cigars is rarely ever done by minors or even young adults. The product is not attractive to youths due to the cost, size, and skill required to enjoy a cigar properly. In fact, when most youths think of a "cigar" they likely think of cheap, flavored, machine-made products such as "swisher sweets" which are not even sold at premium cigar stores. When those types of products are purchased by youths, they are not after the nicotine or experience of the tobacco, but rather a delivery system for the flower form of marijuana. The only time most youths smoke anything even slightly related to cigars, they hollow out the majority of the tobacco anyway.

Premium cigars are within a league of their own and should be legislated separately from other tobacco products. They are not inhaled, are rarely used by minors or young adults, and multiple studies have shown that daily cigar users have little to no increased health concerns compared to non-smokers. This also means that premium cigar users do not lead to higher public health costs. 

The continued attempts by the State to legislate morality on the citizens leads to growing resentment among the people that are being unfairly targeted by such legislation. Local governments do the same thing to their citizens. Therefore allowing local ordinances to be passed regarding the legality of a product enjoyed by adults will surely lead to abuse of power by lawmakers with an agenda. A local premium cigar shop in this state was once told by tobacco inspectors at the county level that "it is down to you and the hookah shop, and once we get rid of you there won't be any more places to smoke in the county." The lack of knowledge that is shown by the people creating and enforcing these laws has and will continue to lead to the rights of tax-paying citizens be trampled.      

This legislation is just another example of something that sounds good if you do not really know anything about the topic. It will allow for laws to be created at the local level which will harm people's freedoms, eliminate jobs, and damage the economy. Premium cigars do not cost the public anything in healthcare costs, they do not contribute to worsening health, and are enjoyed by adults nearly exclusively. It should not be tied into this already overreaching legislation.

The time has come to stop lumping in premium cigars with other dangerous forms of tobacco. Premium cigars are not hurting anyone. Therefore we demand that premium cigars are explicitly exempted from this legislation and all future legislation involving the sale or consumption of tobacco in the State of Oregon or at the local municipal level.