Nevada Eases Smoking Ban

David Savona
Posted: June 2, 2009

Late last night, Nevada's state senate voted to ease the state smoking ban. At 10:43 p.m., the lawmakers passed a provision to allow smoking in Nevada convention facilities, allowing cigar trade shows to return to Las Vegas.

The smoking provision, championed by Nevada's struggling tourism and hotel interests and the cigar industry, was tacked onto bill AB309, an antistalking bill. Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons is expected to sign the bill into law.

Smoking proponents initially hoped to also permit smoking in bars that serve food, but that never made it to a vote.

"This is a very significant achievement, considering the original legislation would have broadly exempted convenience and grocery stores, bars, and some restaurants," said Norman F. Sharp, president of the Cigar Association of America. "Throughout the long legislative process the exemptions were whittled down; the legislation died several times, and yet always rose Phoenix-like from the ashes—in the end to be attached in conference committee as an amendment to an antistalking bill. The fact that the final legislation exempted only trade shows is a tribute to the persistence of the lobbyists who worked this issue, even though their numbers had declined as the exemptions became more limited. Special recognition should be given to the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association and Cigar Aficionado magazine for the support they provided."

The International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR, formerly known as the Retail Tobacco Dealers of America) is the world's largest cigar industry trade organization. It frequently held its annual convention in Las Vegas, going there five times between 1999 and 2008, but the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act made holding such a show, where cigars are smoked, impossible. NevadaAppeal.com wrote today that assembly judiciary chairman Bernie Anderson "said the change is designed to get the annual cigar aficionados convention to return to Las Vegas by permitting smoking in the Las Vegas convention facility they use to meet."

The IPCPR, which is holding its trade show in New Orleans this year, and next, said it will begin negotiations to return to Las Vegas in 2011.

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