Thomas A. Briant

Argues potential regulations could violate the First Amendment and raise black market threat

It used to be that tobacco issues were for the most part confined to state-level excise tax increases. However, taking a step back and looking at the big picture, the landscape now includes tobacco-related issues at all levels of government, including federal, state and local taxation, restrictions or regulations.

This week, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the First Circuit issued a ruling that upholds two Providence, R.I., ordinances that prohibit retailers from (1) redeeming coupons to obtain a tobacco product free of charge or for less than the listed or non-discounted price, (2) selling tobacco products to adult consumers through any promotional multi-pack discounts such as buy-two, get-one free packages, and (3) selling flavored tobacco products, other than cigarettes, except in a smoking bar.

In response to a directive issued by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago Board of Health has scheduled four town hall meetings this month to obtain the public’s input on the flavored tobacco...

The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has issued its Fiscal Year 2012 report on the agency’s annual federal and state program to monitor tobacco sales to...

Although 31 state legislatures considered legislation this year to increase or decrease cigarette and tobacco product tax rates, only seven states have actually enacted an increase or decrease in ciga...