Which are the most cigar-friendly states?

[ApexAZ]

There is a complete resource somewhere concerning state taxes.

I'm not sure what Smokin5 meant with this though: "Gotta agree AZ is OK, but unless you're somewhere with a
"grandfathered" smoking lounge, you're out of luck smoking
anywhere inside."

It was my understanding that if you are a smoke shop, you can smoke inside. Perhaps something has changed, but every B&M I've been to has allowed smoking inside. It's true that other businesses (like a bar or restaurant) can not legally allow smoking, but I'm not sure if such a state exists, and even if it does, it's likely that won't last forever.

Phoenix has a couple nice cigar bars. I am fortunate enough to live a few miles from one of the better ones. This place really is a life-saver during the summer months. It's nice to be able to go into a climate controlled bar and have a cigar and whisky They are the only bars you can smoke in and they get away with it because their tobacco sales exceed liquor sales, so they are primarily a tobacconist. During the winter I spend a lot more time on my patio enjoying the nicer weather.

I think Texas and AZ are going to be very similar in terms of being cigar friendly. Both are very gun friendly too, which of course NYC is not. We have some pretty good 'cue also, but nothing can stand up to the legendary Texas barbecue!

Edit: To add, the California recommendations make some valid points in that they seem to have a great community with lots of organized herfs.

[mahtofire14]

MN sure isn't. While there are a few nice b&m's around which you can smoke inside, the price of tobacco is about twice as much as average prices.

[smokin5]

[quote=ApexAZ;1990408]
I'm not sure what Smokin5 meant with this though: "Gotta agree AZ is OK, but unless you're somewhere with a
"grandfathered" smoking lounge, you're out of luck smoking
anywhere inside."

It was my understanding that if you are a smoke shop, you can smoke inside. Perhaps something has changed, but every B&M I've been to has allowed smoking inside. It's true that other businesses (like a bar or restaurant) can not legally allow smoking, but I'm not sure if such a state exists, and even if it does, it's likely that won't last forever.

8 * * * * *

What I meant was that you cannot open a NEW cigar lounge in AZ,
at least that's my understanding. The ones that existed when the
smoking ban kicked in a few years back (i.e., "grandfathered" in legal
jargon) are allowed to continue, but no new ones will be approved
by the powers that be. In the case of my town, no cigar lounges
exist, so we can be assured we'll never see one here. Then again,
with my deck & den operating as a regular 'nonprofit' cigar lounge,
I don't really care whether we get a real lounge. My friends come
to my place for a smoke & a joke.

[ApexAZ]

Originally Posted by smokin5

What I meant was that you cannot open a NEW cigar lounge in AZ,
at least that's my understanding. The ones that existed when the
smoking ban kicked in a few years back (i.e., "grandfathered" in legal
jargon) are allowed to continue, but no new ones will be approved
by the powers that be. In the case of my town, no cigar lounges
exist, so we can be assured we'll never see one here. Then again,
with my deck & den operating as a regular 'nonprofit' cigar lounge,
I don't really care whether we get a real lounge. My friends come
to my place for a smoke & a joke.

I gotcha. Where abouts are you located in AZ? I know my cigar lounge opened another store about 2 years ago and planning a new one in Scottsdale. Perhaps this is a city/county law, or perhaps since they are already established as a tobacco dealer, they can branch out?

I'll ask them next time I'm in.