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No strangers to performance activism, the Truth Initiative is at it again! At a public hearing to discuss ways the […]

First, less than two months ago, staff at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) Tobacco Prevention […]

First, it was New Zealand, saying, “Hey, let’s ban access to a perfectly legal product, in a manner that if […]

As you sit reading this, hopefully comfortably enjoying a cigar, know that a powerful elite group has gathered and decided […]

The Premium Cigar Association (PCA), working in cooperation with the Cigar Association of America (CAA) and Drew Estate Cigars, will […]

For 91 years, the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) has consistently spearheaded the industry’s growth and well-being. Having joined in 2019, […]

Over the course of the last week, it has taken a moment to digest yet another bad national precedent by the forces […]

New “research” from the University of North Carolina (UNC)is proving that even one of America’s last great pastimes, golf, is not safe from the nanny-state agenda. In a research letter published […]

Last week, a member of the Colorado state senate sought tax relief for the state’s small business tobacconists and their […]

Since announcing the state grant program in late 2023, the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) has accepted three grant applications submitted […]

The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) government affairs and research team recently put together a simplified informational guide on State Clean […]

The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) in alignment with the association’s efforts to engage in proactive policy development, self-regulatory standards, and […]

On January 31, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) filed its appealing Judge Amit Mehta’s orders holding the […]

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) was part of a law passed in 2021 to assist the government in combating financial […]

The New Year represents new challenges and opportunities for the premium cigar industry and the Premium Cigar Association (PCA). The […]

The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) is announcing a new state advocacy grant program aimed at investing in State Associations and […]

The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) testified before the White House Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory […]

The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) has filed an official comment regarding the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) latest efforts […]

Washington, D.C., 10-4-2023 — Today, the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) went on record opposing the United Kingdom’s proposed generational smoking […]

The Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General (OIG) recently conducted a comprehensive analysis of the Food and Drug Administration’s […]

This week, the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) endorsed new legislation that would allow cigar bars in Wisconsin for the first […]

In September 2023, Congress introduced the CARE For Moms Act, a piece of legislation aimed at enhancing healthcare services for […]

For too long, the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) has been allowed to step on the toes of its regulatory […]

As we await the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) Characterizing Flavor Standard for Cigars, the emergence of new FDA-funded research […]

[1] Patterns Of Premium And Nonpremium Cigar Use In The United States: Findings From Wave 6 (2021) Of The Population […]

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently published a study titled “Premium Cigar Festivals: A Potential Target for Marketing Restrictions” […]

[August 22, 2023 – Washington, DC] The Premium Cigar Association (PCA), represented by Deputy Executive Director/Head of Government Affairs Joshua […]

Last week we have achieved something that many thought we never could: VICTORY over the deeming rule and the FDA’s […]

“The FDA’s Final Deeming Rule is vacated insofar as it applies to premium cigars.” But what does that mean? The given […]

Would you buy a package of bacon next to a picture of a man in the throes of heart failure? […]

The city of Dayton, Ohio, is considering imposing a monthly surcharge on its non-classified employees who use tobacco products starting […]

The Truth Initiative’s proposed “End Game” plan has revealed its true intentions of pursuing total prohibition of tobacco. Their strategy, […]

Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09), Co-Chairman of the Congressional Cigar Caucus, hosted a Cigar Policy Roundtable to provide Members of Congress […]

The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) has filed a formal request for a meeting with the Ombudsman of the U.S. Food […]

The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) has joined over 200 organizations in signing a letter to the White House that raises […]

While community tobacconists from across the nation were conducting business during the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) convention and trade show […]

Dr. Brian King, the Director of the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), recently shared CTPs perspective on their response to […]

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) celebrates the passage and signing of SB 905 in Connecticut, which allows […]

Today, the Premium Cigar Association (PCA), in partnership with its member tobacconists of Nevada, is pleased to announce that Governor […]

In a recent decision by the Supreme Court, they firmly rejected the unauthorized use of trademarks by a manufacturer selling […]

The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) announced today that Omar de Frias, President and Founder of Fratello Cigars, has donated $3,000 […]

Today, the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) announced that Louisiana Governor John Bell Edwards signed legislation supporting the industry, strengthening the […]

The recent establishment of the Center for Rapid Surveillance of Tobacco (CRST), funded by the FDA and the National Institutes […]

As the World Health Organization (WHO) gears up for ‘World No Tobacco Day’ on May 31st, it is important to […]

President Biden’s recent proclamation on World Trade Week emphasizes the importance of trade in building an economy that benefits all […]

The Premium Cigar Association (PCA), in partnership with its member tobacconists of Montana in the Montana Cigar Association, is pleased […]

The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) is dedicated to brick-and-mortar premium tobacconists’ current and future success. Advocacy on behalf of premium […]

The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) is bringing attention to a matter of grave importance to the industry. The U.S. Food […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) is proud to announce the creation of the Diplomatic Cigar Corps, a […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Washington DC – The Premium Cigar Association commends Congressman Dan Meuser (R-PA) and Congressman Troy A. Carter, […]

Submitting a public comment on a proposed regulation is an important way to make your voice heard and influence public […]

[Washington, DC, April 17, 2023] The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) announced that Mike Gold, President of Arango Cigar Co., has […]

The Premium Cigar Association (PCA), represented by Deputy Executive Director/Head of Government Affairs Joshua Habursky, testified before the U.S. Food […]

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) and Cigar Rights of America (CRA) celebrate the passage of HB […]

Washington, D.C. – The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) today expressed its appreciation to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for vetoing the […]

H.B. 330, Passes the Legislature, and is Signed by the Governor Today, the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) in partnership with […]

Dr. Robert Califf, the commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recently testified before the U.S. House of […]

Washington, D.C. – On March 22, 2023, the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) was honored to be invited to an event […]

Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) announces today that the company is returning as an exhibitor to the 2023 Premium Cigar Association […]

PCA Position/Strategy The Premium Cigar Association is actively working with state associations, retailers, and coalition partners to introduce and support […]

The premium cigar and pipe tobacco industries have long been targets of organizations seeking to restrict or eliminate the use […]

The Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) has responded to the recommendations of an independent expert panel facilitated by the Reagan-Udall […]

Bloomberg Philanthropies recently donated another $420 Million “to reduce” tobacco use globally. Since 2005 the organization has been a key […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [Washington, DC – Feb. 15, 2023] The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) is calling on all cigar retailers, […]

[Washington, DC, Feb 7, 2023] The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently released polling results from 2021 claiming the majority […]

[Washington, DC — January 18, 2023] The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) actively supported the Waco Texas City Council’s effort to […]

On November 16th and 17th, the Premium Cigar Association hosted the 2nd Annual Policy Summit, with Day 1 centered around […]

[Washington, DC — Oct 24, 2022] Today, the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) presented to the Reagan Udall Foundation’s Independent Expert […]

The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) is committed to defending and promoting premium cigar and pipe tobacco retailers and manufacturers around […]

As we approach the college football rivalry game of Alabama v. Tennessee, it is timely to bring up the tradition […]

Private companies putting up barriers is the new frontier for anti-tobacco rules. Big business wants to control what you can […]

The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) is committed to defending premium cigars and pipe tobacco from legislative and regulatory overreach. Although […]

See below for recent news and updates from the PCA’s Government Affairs team. New Tobacco Compliance Webinar Available for Retailers […]

A new season is coming, and if you’re in the retail game, you know I’m not just talking about Fall. […]

In Washington DC, August is typically referred to as a recess period when Congress is out. While it signifies time […]

This past weekend the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) was invited to join the Boutique Cigar Association of America for their […]

Following oral arguments conducted on May 23rd, 2022 in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in […]

In a country where consumers have to be 21 years or older to even purchase tobacco, how do activists justify […]

Under the theme “Education and Private-Public sector collaboration: Essential to protect, nurture and develop the artisanal premium cigar industry”, the […]

The words “government” and “common sense” are not often used in the same sentence and being the target of legislation […]

Our industry’s greatest argument against overregulation is that we do not fall into the scope of concerns levied against most […]

The Basics Hearings are a tool used by the state and federal legislatures to engage with the public, specifically with […]

The prohibitionist movement in different industries has taken many forms throughout the last 100 years. In 1922, the United States […]

federal 2021 was a strong year for the Premium Cigar Association’s advocacy efforts and the support of its membership. Consumers, […]

While it may be late in the year, it is never too late to start planning for the holiday shopping […]

Thurs, September 30, 2021, Washington, DC —On October 6, 2021, the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) will hold a virtual International […]

There are several key takeaways from the proposed tax increase being circulated in Congress for PCA retail members.  Going from $0.40 […]

The proposed tax increase under consideration in Congress could see tax increases in excess of 1000% for premium cigars and […]

Traditionally, the U.S. Congress will adjourn from the beginning of August to Labor Day to for what is commonly known […]

The Premium Cigar Association in Partnership with Retail Tobacconists in the States During the course of the last six months, […]

Federal Tax – Large Cigar/Small Cigar/Pipe Tobacco Excise Tobacco excise is a significant source of revenue for the Federal Government, […]

This year during legislative sessions in Montana and North Dakota, members introduced bills to permit cigar bars or lounges, as […]

DISCLAIMER: The information found below is for informational purposes only, we are not providing legal advice and, do not claim […]

It is an honor to talk to policymakers about premium cigars to protect small businesses brick and mortar retailers and […]

PCA Executive Director Scott Pearce and President John Anderson sent a letter to Congress today urging them to take action […]

As we prepare the next two to four years, we look forward to building strong relationships with the new administration […]

This election cycle featured two tobacco tax increases and a minimum wage increase. All three of these measures passed. The […]

From Capitol Hill to State Legislatures to the Food & Drug Administration, 2020 was a monumental year for differentiating premium […]

The Small Business Administration (SBA) and US Department of Treasury released an updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document on the Paycheck Protection […]

Tobacco control policy has had dramatic shifts over the past few years and these shifts have exacerbated over recent months […]

By: Glynn Loope, Executive Director, Cigar Rights of America & Josh Habursky, Director of Government Affairs, Premium Cigar Association No […]

As the national discussion shifts toward re-opening of the economy, it is critical to support consumers who participate in face-to-face […]

Across the country, COVID-19 has decimated small businesses in nearly every industry —limiting sales, requiring new protocols, shuttering stores, and […]

The following message was sent to Congressional Staff expressing PCA’s policy position on Temporary Liability Protections during COVID-19 based on […]

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, retailers should have procedures and supplies in place to encourage proper hand and […]

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an unprecedented impact on individuals, businesses, and our economy as a whole. During these […]

As we continue to adjust to a new way of life amidst the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, brick and […]

As the cigar industry copes with the effects of nationwide, state mandated shutdowns, it might be time to look to […]

Across the country, retail tobacconists are grappling with uncertainty. State and local governments have imposed restrictions on movement, impeding commerce […]

With the rapid spread of COVID-19 and social distancing, some premium tobacco stores and lounges have been forced to close […]

I’m a seasoned traveler. I left the hotel with plenty of time. I’m TSA Pre-Check approved. I even bought the […]

As a new year begins, so does the start of legislative sessions across the United States. State capitols are teeming […]

In 2019, your state government relations team tracked 900 state bills! This year, we are expecting even more tobacco bill […]