A group of 17 demonstrators staged a rally Tuesday in front of Reynolds American Inc.’s downtown headquarters to call attention to tobacco-farm workers, who the protesters said are often underpaid and forced to live in poor conditions. Gail Phares of Raleigh, an organizer and advocate for immigrants’ rights, said that the U.S. must reform its immigration policies. “It’s time for us to recognize the labor of farm workers a ... Jump to full article >>

On April 15th, the very day many Vermonters’ are trying to pay their end of year tax obligations, the Vermont Senate Finance Committee voted to increase the cigarette tax by $1.00 per pack, making Vermont more than $20.00 carton higher than New Hampshire. Here’s why we oppose this tax increase: The Importance of Buying Local Stemming the Loss of Retail Business Across Vermont’s Borders There has been significant focus across Vermont in rec ... Jump to full article >>

A jury in Escambia County on Monday returned the lowest verdict so far in a string of suits on behalf of smokers against tobacco companies. Betty Sulcer of Milton was awarded $11,250 on behalf of her late husband, Billy. A smoker since the age of 13, died of lung cancer at age 66 in 1993. The jury found $225,000 in compensatory damages. But the award was reduced because it found Sulcer’s husband 95 percent liable for his health issues and ... Jump to full article >>

HARTFORD,Conn. — U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal encouraged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to protect public health by removing menthol cigarettes from the marketplace. The Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee found evidence that tobacco companies often include menthol flavors in their products both to entice certain demographics such as young children and teens to use tobacco, and to make it harder for them to quit. “ ... Jump to full article >>

The rapid growth of middle classes in China, India and other countries over the past few years has opened up new markets for Southeastern tobacco. Health problems associated with tobacco use are well circulated worldwide and making tobacco safer is an ongoing challenge for the tobacco industry. China is the world leader in tobacco production and a good example of how the tobacco market is likely to go in the near future. As is the case for all ... Jump to full article >>

Never work with children or animals, or so the saying goes. And it’s something The Hangover 2 director Todd Phillips has found to his cost. The director has admitted that the monkey, which features in the forthcoming comedy, has become addicted to cigarettes following filming. ‘I wanted the monkey to smoke so we had to train her to,’ Phillips told Total Film magazine. ‘Now I have PETA after me because the monkey’s ... Jump to full article >>

Commission limits ban to parks, playgrounds as resort city joins national and regional trend. Smoking will be banned in parks and playgrounds in Rehoboth Beach but city commissioners on Friday stopped short of a prohibition of smoking on the beach and boardwalk. The ban will take effect in 30 days to give municipal officials time to post signs and place cigarette-disposal caddies in the restricted areas. The commissioners’ 5-2 decision mir ... Jump to full article >>

Slow government response to repeated complaints of illegal tobacco sales has cost the state and legitimate distributors millions of dollars, according to longtime Oklahoma City tobacco wholesaler Alan Beck. Slow government response to repeated complaints of illegal tobacco sales has cost the state and legitimate distributors millions of dollars, according to longtime Oklahoma City tobacco wholesaler Alan Beck. For six years, Beck has complained ... Jump to full article >>

Call it a duel between tobacco tax studies. During a floor debate in the Legislature last month on lowering the New Hampshire tobacco tax, Rep. Patrick Abrami, R-Stratham, said the move was necessary to help small businesses rebound and strengthen a competitive advantage in lower cigarette taxes with neighbor states. “We have reached the tipping point,” Abrami said about the sizeable increase in tobacco taxes that had taken place sin ... Jump to full article >>

WASHINGTON — A recent wave of state tobacco tax increases, designed to pump revenue into cash-strapped local governments, is inspiring an increasingly dangerous cigarette smuggling industry where big profits lure violent criminal gangs and drug traffickers into the booming illegal market, according to law enforcement officials and court records. Larry Penninger, acting director of the tobacco diversion unit of teh Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, F ... Jump to full article >>