Washington Resident... Help! :(

[Joshcertain]

why not get a po box across the state line then have your baccy shipped there... then go pick it up.

that being said I'm pretty sure this kind of legislation is unconstitutional. the congress regulates interstate trade, not the state governments.

[mugwump]

Originally Posted by Joshcertain

I'm pretty sure this kind of legislation is unconstitutional. the congress regulates interstate trade, not the state governments.

I agree with you there but by the time this winds its way through the courts I imagine a similar Federal law will have been passed making this one moot and letting every resident of the United States join in the fun.

[Stumptown]

Originally Posted by mugwump

As the legislation points out large cigars are exempt from the ban but all other tobacco products will be illegal to ship into Washington whether they be purchases or gifts. And since this is a felony infraction most of us are taking it rather seriously.

yeah, I don't intend on getting arrested or charged for getting tobacco shipped to me I'm just sad I have so little time to pick up the habit and get some of the good stuff online cheap

@josh, haha, technically that would be possible, as portland is right across the river.. i'm not sure on the shipping laws across the river though.

lilbrown's is close-ish. I could go visit their B&M or just take a chance on some of the local shops. Portland is bound to have at least one good B&M.

[springnr]

"A person may not ship tobacco products, other than cigars weighing more than three pounds for 1,000 units, purchased by mail or through the internet to anyone in Washington other than a licensed wholesaler or retailer."
_____
Anybody have a good scale? ... and calculator.
I'm wondering if most properly humidified (~70%) cigars above cigarillo size will weigh >3# per 1,000.

Maybe some online retailer knows?

* note to self order more special G, small Padron, .....

[Arizona]

What the hell kind of COMMUNIST BS is this????? Can't buy tobacco online in WA state????? You gotta be kidding me people!

How far are you from Oregon or Idaho? I'd find a friend to order you a buttload of it once a year or so and just drive down and get it. I'm sure one of your brothers here on the forum would do it for you.

I dare say the winds of revolution are beginning to blow here - and they smell like pipe smoke!!!!!!

[Alpedhuez55]

Originally Posted by Arizona

How far are you from Oregon or Idaho? I'd find a friend to order you a buttload of it once a year or so and just drive down and get it. I'm sure one of your brothers here on the forum would do it for you.

That makes the most sense where he lives near the line. If you live across the river to have it sent to a friend as a gift, and pick it up. I doubt they are going to do roadblocks to try to catch pipe tobacco.

I wonder if there is some federal law that could block that. It just seems like a violation of some interstate commerce laws.

[Arizona]

Originally Posted by Alpedhuez55

That makes the most sense where he lives near the line. If you live across the river to have it sent to a friend as a gift, and pick it up. I doubt they are going to do roadblocks to try to catch pipe tobacco.

I wonder if there is some federal law that could block that. It just seems like a violation of some interstate commerce laws.

Well ya perhaps there is some violation there hypertechnically, but this would require:

Big Brother monitoring the transaction and communications between you and your friend in Idaho... Watching you go pick it up and KNOW there is no other tobacco in your vehicle when you exit your state... then trailing you back to the state line where you cross into your home state again and stop you there "red handed" with your Dr Grabow and tobacco.

Seems a bit far-fetched unless the BATF is going to start working pipe tobacco!

[DSturg369]

Another option is to locate fellow BOTL's and work out a deal with those traveling to WA state near you for business, vacation, or whatever, and have them bring you a "gift" or two. Then, if you decide to offer them a cash "thank you", well............???

[Mortanis]

What sort of absurd nonsense is this? What possible reason is there to legislate this? There was a local place that sold over 30 varieties of pipe tobacco here that recently shut down, and I'm pretty much down to no useful choices any more.

Such an absurd state.

[Juicestain]

Wow. I am not a pipe smoker but this bill has me worried about the future of ordering cigars online as that is where I get most of my stock. B&M shops around me are just too expensive. I feel for my pipe smoking BOTL on this. Lets hope this gets shot down in another bill soon.

[nate560]

This will spread to other states too. States are not collecting there tobacco tax and sales tax money.They lose millions every year in tax dollars so I think this is only the start. Best thing to do is pickup a bit while you can. The law sucks but what are you or me going to do about it. I dont see the average person going to court over it so I would just get use to it and stock up. People talk about doing this or that but nothing ever comes of it. Be pissed off but I will say it again stock up!

[MarkC]

Originally Posted by Joshcertain

why not get a po box across the state line then have your baccy shipped there... then go pick it up.

That looks like an easy solution for now; just go over the bridge, get a P.O. Box in Portland and thumb your nose at the state. While holding a pipe in the other hand, of course...

[sounds7]

If the package doesn"t come from a tobacco store how are they going to check this? If it were me I would order some coffee and tins of tobacco from Cup O' Joes - Largest Selection of Dunhill Pipes and Pipe Tobacco the package doesn't say tobacco anywhere on it when I receive it.

[MarkC]

Originally Posted by sounds7

If the package doesn"t come from a tobacco store how are they going to check this?

Good point. My last order from pipesandcigars.com was labelled 'vitamins'. Fortunately, it didn't specify 'vitamin N'...

[baba]

It looks like cigars are exempt. I copied and pasted section below. Let me know what you think

(9))) (6) "Tobacco product" means a product that contains tobacco
22 and is intended for human use, including any product defined in RCW
23 82.24.010(2) or 82.26.010(1), except that for the purposes of section
24 2 of this act only, "tobacco product" does not include cigars defined
25 in RCW 82.26.010 as to which one thousand units weigh more than three
26 pounds.
27 NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 70.155 RCW
28 to read as follows:
29 (1) A person may not:
30 (a) Ship or transport, or cause to be shipped or transported, any
31 tobacco product ordered or purchased by mail or through the internet to
32 anyone in this state other than a licensed wholesaler or retailer; or
33 (b) With knowledge or reason to know of the violation, provide
34 substantial assistance to a person who is in violation of this section.
35 (2)(a) A person who knowingly violates subsection (1) of this
36 section is guilty of a class C felony, except that the maximum fine
37 that may be imposed is five thousand dollars.
SSB 5340.