CigarMediaNews

Operation Cigar Liberty: A National Message to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration

2011-05-08T09:04:26Z

By J. Glynn Loope, Executive Director
Cigar Rights of America

Today, we launch the largest effort in cigar history that will allow your voice to be heard, on the most significant threat to your passion for a great cigar.

As you have read in our April 20 and 22 releases, federal legislation (H.R. 1639) has been filed calling upon the U.S. Food & Drug Administration – Center for Tobacco Products not to regulate premium/traditional cigars, as they do other tobacco products. It is the most proactive measure ever taken to protect this nation's cigar enthusiasts, retail tobacconists and manufacturers, alike. It will work to protect not only the cigar we enjoy each week, but the entire supply chain, and thousands of jobs in cigar producing nations.

You can now join the voices of over twenty members of the U.S. House of Representatives and US Senate, in telling the FDA to back off the idea of regulating cigars. You can tell them to “Leave My Cigar Alone.”

Today, we launch Operation Cigar Liberty. In commemoration of this proactive piece of federal legislation, as the first of its kind in history in the form of H.R. 1639, Cigar Rights of America is starting a national petition drive for 1,639 petitions from each Congressional District in America. With 435 members of Congress, that's 712,965 petitions. That's over 7,000 petitions to each member of the United States Senate. They will listen to that. When elections are being decided by dozens, hundreds and a few thousand votes, they will listen.

The link to the petition will also be distributed to every cigar shop in America, so that they can send to their patrons. With over 2,000 professional tobacconists spanning every Congressional District in America , this is the moment for activism, energy, passion and a commitment to send our government a message. We have had, enough.

So with one simple click, where all you submit is a name, email address and zip code, you can have a place in history.

H.R. 1639 Update:

We are also pleased to announce new patrons on H.R. 1639. U.S. Representative (and Presidential aspirant) Ron Paul of Texas; Chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee Harold Rogers of Kentucky ; and US Representative Dennis Ross of Florida have joined as sponsors of the legislation.

Stay Informed On The Proposed

Regulation of Cigars By The FDA

CRA News Release, Part 1
CRA News Release, Part 2

Legislation Being Filed to Address the Desire by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to Regulate Premium Cigars

2011-04-20T21:47:08Z

A New Day for National Cigar Politics – Time for some Offense, for a Change – By J. Glynn Loope, Executive Director, Cigar Rights of America. We first wrote about the potential impact of FDA regulation of tobacco, and its hypothetical impact on premium cigars on June 12, 2009. After a decade of Congressional debate, many got what they wanted – federal oversight of tobacco products. On a vote of 307-97 in the House of Representatives, 79-17 in the Senate and a signature by President Obama, a new era in tobacco politics was launched.

European Cigar Cult Journal to become Cigar Journal in summer of 2011

2011-03-29T11:11:36Z

Beginning this summer the European Cigar Cult Journal will become the CIGAR JOURNAL. The name change is being made to better reflect its international scope and readership. The magazine will continue to be published in both German and English languages. The German-language version has been live for several weeks and the English version is coming soon.

The Cigar Journal's motto will be: PURE. PREMIUM. WORLDWIDE.

PURE: It is the only magazine dedicated to smoking pleasure.
PREMIUM: It offers in-depth research, comprehensive insider reports, and high value to the
reader.
WORLDWIDE: Anywhere you find cigars, you’ll also find the Cigar Journal.

The new online domain is: http://www.cigarjournal.co/

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2011-01-07T12:06:37Z

Announcing Cigar Rights of America TV – A LIVE Video Broadcast From CRA Headquarters

2010-10-22T10:02:47Z

CIGAR RIGHTS OF AMERICA 10533 Main Street, Fairfax, Virginia 22030, U.S.A. *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* Announcing CRA TV – A LIVE Video Broadcast From CRA Headquarters - CRA uses new technology to keep the world informed – Fairfax, VA – On Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 4:00pm PST / 7:00pm EST, CRA will make history, yet again. With an expected audience in the thousands of viewers, CRA will unveil its newest initiative – CRA TV! Each week, CRA will offer a LIVE video and chat broadcast via the internet at http://www.cigarrights.org/cratv.htm.

Cigar Rights of America Smoke the Vote 2010 Campaign

2010-09-13T15:58:10Z

Smoke the Vote 2010 Campaign. Join the Cigar Rights of America (CRA) grassroots movement - It's free!

Learn more about the issues that can affect your right to enjoy cigars and which candidates support cigar smoker's rights. Here's an excerpt from CRA's Smoke the Vote 2010 information page:

From now until the fall elections, we'll keep you posted on critical races throughout the nation, focusing upon the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate and the Governor's Office in each state. We'll let you know about their records, suggest those that would most benefit this passion for cigars we share. We'll let you know about voter registration, state and federal issue updates, and how we're growing this base of Cigar Voters.

Simply pass along the link to the Smoke the Vote 2010 Grassroots Network to all of your friends, family, co-workers, cigar club members, neighbors and others that love a great cigar, who are tired of government intrusion.

The issues are significant. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is determined to bring cigars under their domain, potentially ripping the culture and soul from this industry. Local, state and federal efforts to further tax this legal product upon which thousands of jobs are dependent will not cease. And while they're taxing, they want to ban - the ultimate oxymoron in the political process.

Click here for more information.

CRA - Working to Tell "Our Side of the Story" - A New Initiative to Profile the Charitable Work of Cigars

2010-09-11T09:07:47Z

Cigar Rights of America is seeking stories in which cigar retailers, manufacturers, distributors, etc., give back to the community. Send charitable stories and pictures to info@cigarrights.org. Click here for more information.

Cigar Rights of America (CRA) Seminar Analysis at IPCPR

2010-08-15T11:10:36Z

Cigarchannel.com reports the impressions of several key players, including Bob, at the CRA seminar presented in New Orleans at the IPCPR on August 9, 2010. Click here to view the video.

“QUANTUM GROWTH REQUIRES ADDITIONAL SEASONED TALENT”

2010-07-14T09:30:48Z

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Miami, FL, 15 July…My Father Cigars, Inc., the principal company of the Garcia Family’s growing cigar manufacturing and sales colossus, announced the appointment of Jose Ortega as Vice President of Sales. Rather than replacing John Gonzalez, who has held that post since 2007, Ortega will focus on domestic (U.S.) sales and in-store events; while Gonzalez will be free to concentrate on international sales, specifically, Europe and Asia.

DWCR Schedule Change Announcement - Weekly Shows Continue, But Live-Show Broadcast Ended

2010-07-02T10:31:00Z

Dale and I have been doing the DWCR show live on Friday nights for a very long time. Although we enjoy seeing everyone in the chat room and being able to perform in front of a live audience, it is time to make a change. Beginning with the July 2, 2010 show there will be no more live shows and no video editions of the DogWatch Cigar Radio show; however, the show will still be produced weekly and broadcast by Sunday.

This change will allow Dale and I to be more flexible in covering events and spending time with our families while still working to provide new episodes of DogWatch Cigar Radio every week. The July 2, 2010 show will be a "Best of Bob and Dale" compilation to allow us to spend time with family over the July Fourth Holiday.

As many of you know, I have 4 grandkids in Florida and this change will allow me more time to see them on long weekends. I thank all of you for being with us each Friday night and want to assure you that this in no way lessens our commitment to providing a weekly show.

Thank you