Clear the Air

Today the West Virginia House of Delegates passed out Committee Substitute for HB2360 which prohibits the sale of cigarettes in anything other than its original factory wrapped packaging and only in packs of no fewer than twenty.

This bill previously had been amended by the House Judiciary Committee to remove all tobacco products other than cigarettes. While the bill has merit by addressing the issue of single cigarette sales the exclusion of other tobacco products from coverage under this legislation is disappointing. This is particularly true as the tobacco industry works to establish new products.

The bill now goes to the West Virginia Senate for consideration.

Tags: tobacco control, West Virginia Legislature, youth access

The following tobacco-related bills were introduced today, Tuesday, February 24th, in the West Virginia Legislature:

HB2773 - Increasing the monetary penalties for selling tobacco products to minors.

Bills are listed here for informational purposes only and no endorsement is to be implied. Clear the Air will review bills more in depth as they begin to move. To track these bills yourself visit the West Virginia Legislative website Bill Status page.

Tags: 2009 Session, bills introduced, West Virigina Legislature, youth access

This morning the House Judiciary Committee took up HB2360 and through a tobacco industry supported strike and insert amendment weakened the provisions of the bill.

The bill, as amended, now only prohibits the sale of cigarettes in anything other than its original factory wrapped packaging and only in packs of no fewer than twenty.

Stricken from the legislation was all references to any other tobacco products.

While the bill still has merit by addressing the issue of single cigarette sales the exclusion of other tobacco products from coverage under this legislation is disappointing. This is particularly true as the tobacco industry works to establish new products.

The bill now goes to the full House of Delegates for approval before it moves to the Senate.

Tags: tobacco control, West Virginia Legislature, youth access

On Friday, February 20th at 9:00 the House Judiciary Committee will take up consideration of H.B.2360 - Insuring that tobacco products are not sold in any packaging other than the original.

The purpose of this bill is to insure that tobacco products are not sold in any packaging other than the original factory wrapped package and to insure that cigarettes are not sold individually.

Delegates Patti Eagloski Schoen & Don Perdue

This legislation was introduced by Delegate Schoen and Delegate Perdue and would prohibit the sale of tobacco products in any form other than an original factory wrapped package; require that cigarette packages shall not contain fewer than twenty cigarettes, and; prohibit any person or business entity from selling single cigarettes (”loosies’) or packages of cigarettes that do not display the federally mandated health warnings.

Any person or business found guilty of any of these provision would be charged with a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined $250.

Some of these provisions had been contained in the original Master Settlement Agreement but have since expired.

The Coalition for a Tobacco-Free West Virginia has endorsed this legislation and is urging its passage.

Tags: tobacco control, West Virginia Legislature, youth access

This license to sell tobacco products, issued in 1919, cost $10 ($118.92 in 2009 dollars) and a license was required in West Virginia to sell tobacco products.

Tobacco retailers today pay no license fee. The “license” they receive is bundled with their business license and simply requires checking a box that tobacco products are sold. Also, unlike beer and alcohol licenses, there are no legal provisions to suspend or revoke the license of a retailer which sells tobacco products to minors.

Any wonder we have one of highest youth smoking rates in nation?

Tags: tobacco control, West Virginia, youth access