Canadian Cigar Smokers Unite! (a petition)

[Hunter]

http://www.activism.com/en_US/petition/allow-cigar-smoking-in-licensed-cigar-lounges/41897

My cigar smoking forum had this post just put up and I figured my Canadian Cigar smoking brethren would like to get their names on this. I don't know if it will go anywhere. As an adult I like being able to make my own choices, namely being able to go into a room full of like minded people to smoke if we wish. I am not going to get too political about it because that is never a good thing.

Happy Smoking,

 

[Liberty_2112]

I support Liberty and personal choice. I am not Canadian, but I do play hockey, so I figured it would be OK for me to sign the petition.

 

[Hunter]

I support Liberty and personal choice. I am not Canadian, but I do play hockey, so I figured it would be OK for me to sign the petition.

That's funny I am a Canadian and a terrible hockey player!

 

[Liberty_2112]

That's funny I am a Canadian and a terrible hockey player!

I never said I was any good!

 

[BurningBeard]

Do you have to be Canadian for the signiture to matter?

 

[Hunter]

It is just a petition, I think anyone can sign it.

 

[jumper]

Regardless of skill level, if you play hockey you're alright in our books.

I never said I was any good!

 

[TheTrunkDr]

I enjoy the occasional cigar and offer hardy no thanks to this. The day I could go to restaurants and bars and not have my senses assaulted by foul smelling smoke was a wonderful, glorious day. I thoroughly enjoy the smoke free environments that didn't previously exist and frequent them far more often than I previously did. I realize someone will say "this is for cigar lounges!!" which means absolutely nothing as there is no licensing difference between a bar and a cigar lounge and whatever minor distinction is dreamed up will be easy for any bar to meet to enable smoking. You can't feasibly license a cigar lounge without enabling the same to other businesses.

 

[VerbaVolant]

http://www.activism.com/en_US/petition/allow-cigar-smoking-in-licensed-cigar-lounges/41897

My cigar smoking forum had this post just put up and I figured my Canadian Cigar smoking brethren would like to get their names on this. I don't know if it will go anywhere. As an adult I like being able to make my own choices, namely being able to go into a room full of like minded people to smoke if we wish. I am not going to get too political about it because that is never a good thing.

Happy Smoking,

I would sign your petition but after reading it I understand now the goal you are trying to achieve. We live in a democratic, free society and I am grateful for that. The current laws and regulations are put in place after a democratic process and not by a dictatorial government. It is the choice of the majority that you (and me) have to respect. And that choice is clear: no smoking in public areas. You are certainly free to challenge the law, in a civil way.
In my opinion this petition is unreasonable and hypocritical.
It is unreasonable because you want a cigar lounge in a public area. You cannot have a smoking area in a public smoke-free place. You cannot have a pissing area in a ****-free swimming pool either.
It is hypocritical because you try to build your case on the back of cigarette smokers. You say that as an adult you like being able to make your own choices. So do cigarette smokers, don't you think? Or is your choice more important than others?
Excerpt from petition:

Our Government needs to stop blanketing smoking under cigarettes, which are inhaled and are addictive.

Let me get this straight. I understand you do not suppose to inhale cigar smoke while smoking your own. What do you do between puffs? Do you have a fresh-air tank that you inhale from, or you breath the smoke/air mix from your cigar and the fellow smokers?

In my opinion this post is hypocritical since you start with a link to a petition that is political: " ...YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR FREEDOM TAKEN AWAY...", "FREEDOMS ARE BEING STOLEN DAY BY DAY", "With this ban, the politicians in our great Country and Province also banned people from...", "People have had enough with rules and restrictions from our nanny state." and so on.
Yet, your closing statement is:

...I am not going to get too political about it because that is never a good thing.

I do not smoke and enjoy the smoke free public places. So do my children. You are certainly free to smoke in your home, as long as no one else around you is offended by your habit. I will support your right if that is the case and I hope you enjoy your hobby for many, many years.

Cheers.

 

[Hunter]

I would sign your petition but after reading it I understand now the goal you are trying to achieve. We live in a democratic, free society and I am grateful for that. The current laws and regulations are put in place after a democratic process and not by a dictatorial government. It is the choice of the majority that you (and me) have to respect. And that choice is clear: no smoking in public areas. You are certainly free to challenge the law, in a civil way.
In my opinion this petition is unreasonable and hypocritical.
It is unreasonable because you want a cigar lounge in a public area. You cannot have a smoking area in a public smoke-free place. You cannot have a pissing area in a ****-free swimming pool either.
It is hypocritical because you try to build your case on the back of cigarette smokers. You say that as an adult you like being able to make your own choices. So do cigarette smokers, don't you think? Or is your choice more important than others?
Excerpt from petition:

Let me get this straight. I understand you do not suppose to inhale cigar smoke while smoking your own. What do you do between puffs? Do you have a fresh-air tank that you inhale from, or you breath the smoke/air mix from your cigar and the fellow smokers?

In my opinion this post is hypocritical since you start with a link to a petition that is political: " ...YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR FREEDOM TAKEN AWAY...", "FREEDOMS ARE BEING STOLEN DAY BY DAY", "With this ban, the politicians in our great Country and Province also banned people from...", "People have had enough with rules and restrictions from our nanny state." and so on.
Yet, your closing statement is:


I do not smoke and enjoy the smoke free public places. So do my children. You are certainly free to smoke in your home, as long as no one else around you is offended by your habit. I will support your right if that is the case and I hope you enjoy your hobby for many, many years.

Cheers.

Just so you know I only made the thread not the petition. Also I have spend many years studying politics, your discription of Canadian democracy is through rose coloured glasses, it is a much dirtier thing than that. I also respect that you want a place for your children to be smoke free, I don't like smoking around kids, same reason why I don't drink, swear, or talk politics around them.

 

[Schmitz Bitz]

I think there is an answer that can appeal to the smoker seeking a place to enjoy their favourite vices in the company of others, without feeling furtive and criminal; however keeping the balance of smoke-free restaurants, pubs and other public businesses (which I do support, I don't enjoy a meal when I'm surrounded by smoke myself). It wouldn't require a new set of legislation to differentiate between 'cigar lounges' and 'pubs' because the legislation is already in place.
My solution? Simple: Allow tobacconists (and only tobacconists) to open a 'cigar lounge' on their premises. They are already regulated at the provincial level, and require licensure. Children have no reason to enter the building, so their lungs will remain healthy; and non-smokers should simply know better.
Most tobacconists have already installed sealed and ventilated 'smoking-rooms' akin to what one finds at the airport, from the days when this was still an option. A yearly licensing fee would cover the cost of inspection of these rooms - and probably even provide a little kick-back to the collecting body.

Conversely, allow the use of tobacco products in the loophole that already exists in many municipalities, the hookah lounge. I find it odd that it is acceptable for a half-dozen people to sit around puffing furiously on a grape-flavoured concotion, but if I light a bowl of my favourite tobacco, I'm poisoning the world and deserve to be ticketed/arrested.

 

[Hunter]

I think there is an answer that can appeal to the smoker seeking a place to enjoy their favourite vices in the company of others, without feeling furtive and criminal; however keeping the balance of smoke-free restaurants, pubs and other public businesses (which I do support, I don't enjoy a meal when I'm surrounded by smoke myself). It wouldn't require a new set of legislation to differentiate between 'cigar lounges' and 'pubs' because the legislation is already in place.
My solution? Simple: Allow tobacconists (and only tobacconists) to open a 'cigar lounge' on their premises. They are already regulated at the provincial level, and require licensure. Children have no reason to enter the building, so their lungs will remain healthy; and non-smokers should simply know better.
Most tobacconists have already installed sealed and ventilated 'smoking-rooms' akin to what one finds at the airport, from the days when this was still an option. A yearly licensing fee would cover the cost of inspection of these rooms - and probably even provide a little kick-back to the collecting body.

Conversely, allow the use of tobacco products in the loophole that already exists in many municipalities, the hookah lounge. I find it odd that it is acceptable for a half-dozen people to sit around puffing furiously on a grape-flavoured concotion, but if I light a bowl of my favourite tobacco, I'm poisoning the world and deserve to be ticketed/arrested.

I like it, well thought out.

 

[Liberty_2112]

One rule I've always held onto: if someone asks me to sign a petition that I don't agree with I don't sign it and I move on. Very simple.

 

[showcattle]

Hey hunter what forum are you on?

 

[Hunter]

Canadian Cigar Smoker, but I'm also on Cigar Chronicles but I haven't been on it for a while. I am also on Pipe Magazine but since all of them are blocked at work I don't spend as much time on there as I use to. I have the same handle on all of them.

Edit, hey it is my eleven hundred and eleventh post!

 

[KarlMaldensNose]

I support Liberty and personal choice. I am not Canadian, but I do play hockey, so I figured it would be OK for me to sign the petition.

That's funny I am a Canadian and a terrible hockey player!

That's funny, I am Canadian and don't care for the game of hockey or its seemingly ubiquitous culture (at least around these parts).

 

[Hunter]

That's funny, I am Canadian and don't care for the game of hockey or its seemingly ubiquitous culture (at least around these parts).

That is fine by me, do you at least enjoy Rugby?

 

[TheTrunkDr]

I think there is an answer that can appeal to the smoker seeking a place to enjoy their favourite vices in the company of others, without feeling furtive and criminal; however keeping the balance of smoke-free restaurants, pubs and other public businesses (which I do support, I don't enjoy a meal when I'm surrounded by smoke myself). It wouldn't require a new set of legislation to differentiate between 'cigar lounges' and 'pubs' because the legislation is already in place.
My solution? Simple: Allow tobacconists (and only tobacconists) to open a 'cigar lounge' on their premises. They are already regulated at the provincial level, and require licensure. Children have no reason to enter the building, so their lungs will remain healthy; and non-smokers should simply know better.
Most tobacconists have already installed sealed and ventilated 'smoking-rooms' akin to what one finds at the airport, from the days when this was still an option. A yearly licensing fee would cover the cost of inspection of these rooms - and probably even provide a little kick-back to the collecting body.

Conversely, allow the use of tobacco products in the loophole that already exists in many municipalities, the hookah lounge. I find it odd that it is acceptable for a half-dozen people to sit around puffing furiously on a grape-flavoured concotion, but if I light a bowl of my favourite tobacco, I'm poisoning the world and deserve to be ticketed/arrested.

The issue with this is that there's nothing stopping any bar or restaurant from obtaining a "tobacconist" license. The only way I see it working is if this theoretical license precludes the licensee from having or obtaining a food or alcohol license. If these businesses literally only sell tobacco and tobacco related products I don't think there's much issue with offering a place to sit and enjoy those products. This really becomes more of a high end smoke shop than a cigar lounge.

 

[Schmitz Bitz]

The issue with this is that there's nothing stopping any bar or restaurant from obtaining a "tobacconist" license. The only way I see it working is if this theoretical license precludes the licensee from having or obtaining a food or alcohol license. If these businesses literally only sell tobacco and tobacco related products I don't think there's much issue with offering a place to sit and enjoy those products. This really becomes more of a high end smoke shop than a cigar lounge.

That is sort of what I envision - licensure for cigar lounges based on licensure as a tobacco vendor in Canada. I don't think the majority of pubs and restaurants would want to deal with the excessive beaurocracy and high cost that goes along with being a tobacco-primary retailer, I know that in my province the hoops one has to jump through border on ridiculous and must assume that the regulations are fairly similar across the country (hence why you don't see many Scheffield and Sons Tobacconists left, but rather the Scheffields Express Newstands - much easier licensure).
I also suggest this would work as many of the local tobacconists in my area have already built smoking lounges with advanced filtration and circulation systems to comply with the regulations which allowed for 'smoking-rooms' in places of business. I know that I would be happy to meet with my local pipe-club in these facilities; and at the same time the shop would benefit from the membership spending money.

 

[Liberty_2112]

That's funny, I am Canadian and don't care for the game of hockey or its seemingly ubiquitous culture (at least around these parts).

Certainly not "ubiquitous" in these parts.

I coach youth hockey and value any time I get to spend with my children