RICHMOND, VA ? A Virginia House of Delegates subcommittee recommended approval last week of legislation to declare stores with roll-your-own cigarette machines to be cigarette manufacturers, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports.
The move is opposed by Virginia tobacco shop owners who said it would force them to close, as well as an Ohio company that produces roll your own machines. Major cigarette companies and trade groups have backed the legislation.
Altria Group Inc. said the legislation is necessary because roll-your-own shops are not subject to cigarette taxes and other regulations imposed on cigarette manufacturers.
"The purpose of the bill is to ensure that anyone making cigarettes in a retail establishment has to play by the same rules that everyone else in the business has to play by," said John Rainey, a lobbyist for Altria.
The subcommittee voted unanimously, 5-0, to recommend that the full finance committee advance the legislation.
One customer said the bill is an example of big companies ?bullying? small businesses.
"If the bill passes, no more of my money will go to big tobacco," said Monica Arnold, a customer at a Virginia Beach roll your own shop. "I'll roll my own cigarettes at home."
For more information about roll your own tobacco, read ?Roll Your Own Profits? in the January NACS Magazine.
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