We are working to have Tobacco stores listed as essential businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many tobacco stores in our state have been forced to close recently due to not being considered essential. The state is using the fact that consumers are still able to get some tobacco products from gas stations or grocery stores. However gas stations and grocery stores only carry cigarettes, which is a small number of sales for most tobacco stores.

Many people don't realize that most of the sales in a tobacco store are customers buying roll your own tobacco, vaping products, cigars, CBD and Kratom. These are all products that are not readily available at a gas station or grocery store, and the order to close all tobacco stores is having a dramatic impact on those who get their products from these stores.

Also, tobacco shops are generally safer to shop at than a grocery store or gas station as most items are kept in locked cases or behind the counter. This means that only the sales clerk is touching these products, and minimizes the possibility of cross contamination. Unlike other "essential" businesses where customers are allowed to browse at their leisure and touch anything they feel like touching.

This petition is meant to show that there is a large number of people in our state who believe that tobacco stores should be essential, and be allowed to stay open as long as they are following the guidelines set forth to help flatten the curve, and prevent the spread of this terrible virus.

We care about our customers and want to keep them safe, while being able to provide them with the products that they need to help make this unbearable time a little more bearable. Please join us in showing your support. We will all get through this together; by helping each other, keeping our distance from others, and practicing good hygiene. We appreciate your support.