By Timothy S. donahue
Top Takeaways:
- Cigar ban removed: Oregon lawmakers stripped language from S.B. 1571 that would have banned internet sales of cigars and pipe tobacco.
- Vape focus remains: The bill instead updates state law to treat most vaping devices similarly to tobacco products.
- Governor next: The legislation has cleared both chambers of the Oregon Legislature and now heads to Gov. Tina Kotek for consideration.
An Oregon bill that initially raised concerns about banning online cigar sales has been revised before final passage, keeping internet cigar purchases legal in the state.
S.B. 1571, which recently passed both the Oregon Senate and House of Representatives, initially included language that would have required tobacco and vaping product sales to be face-to-face, effectively banning online purchases. That provision was removed early in the legislative process.
The version approved by lawmakers now emphasizes vaping products, changing state law to regulate most vaping devices like traditional tobacco products under Oregon’s rules.
When the bill was introduced, its primary sponsor included an amendment that removed language referencing cigars, signaling early on that the broader internet tobacco ban was unlikely to pass the legislative process.
If signed by Gov. Tina Kotek, the legislation would keep Oregon among most states that still permit direct-to-consumer online cigar sales. Currently, Hawaii and Utah are the only states that ban online cigar sales, though lawmakers in both states have debated legislation to lift those bans.
The bill passed its third reading in the Oregon House on March 2, clearing the last legislative obstacle before heading to the governor’s desk for signature.
