John Middleton joined other cigar companies in asking a Maryland circuit court to overturn a recently enacted Prince George’s law that bans the sale of single cigars.
In its filing, the companies are asking the court to enjoin enforcement of the law and ultimately declare it invalid under state and federal law. The law is scheduled to take effect on 12 January 2009.
The Prince George’s law is similar to legislation enacted last year by the city of Philadelphia that was struck down on state preemption grounds by Pennsylvania courts.
“We believe there are other more effective ways of advancing the general policy goals that motivated this law without penalizing adult cigar smokers who frequently purchase single cigars,” said Craig Schwartz, general manager of John Middleton. “We are prepared to work with legislators at the state level to address these concerns,” added Schwartz.
In the lawsuit, filed on 24 December 2008, John Middleton joins fellow manufacturers Altadis USA, Swedish Match North America and Swisher International, as well as Maryland distributor Century Distributors and the Cigar Association of America. (pi)