Cigarettes Coverage

Cigarette sales increase for first time in over 20 years
According to the Federal Trade Commission, 203.7 billion cigarettes were sold in 2020.

FDA announces ban on menthol cigarettes
While menthol cigarettes will likely continue to be on the market for at least two more years, experts are calling the decision a "historic, life-saving step."

FDA moving to ban menthol cigarettes
The surgeon general feels the move is necessary to save lives as the menthol masks the true taste of cigarettes, making it harder to quit. The proposal is facing major pushback from the tobacco industry.

American Heart Association launches #QUITLYING
The American Heart Association is launching a new campaign that may surprise you. Doctor Frank McGeorge explains what it means and why it's taking on the issue.

You now have to be 21 to buy cigarettes or vaping products
A change occurred this month to the federal law governing how old customers must be to purchase cigarettes or vaping products.

Federal law adds age requirement to purchase of cigarettes, vaping products
A new federal law has prohibited the sale of e-cigarettes and nicotine cigarettes to people under the age of 21. But not many people know about it.

Report: 1 in 4 teens used tobacco product in past 30 days
Whether it's smoked, vaped or chewed, an alarming number of young people say they're using tobacco products according to the latest National Youth Tobacco Survey released Thursday by the CDC.

Harnett detention officer fired, charged with selling cigarettes to inmates
A former Harnett County Sheriff's Office employee was charged Tuesday with selling cigarettes to inmates in the county jail, authorities said.

Feds: Fayetteville wholesaler at center of cigarette smuggling operation
More than two dozen people were arrested last week in connection with a $12 million cigarette smuggling operation based in Fayetteville, authorities said Monday.

Authorities bust $12M cigarette smuggling operation based in Fayetteville
More than two dozen people were arrested last week in connection with a $12 million cigarette smuggling operation based in Fayetteville, authorities said Monday.

Multi-state money laundering, cigarette trafficking investigation based in NC
Officials share details on the indictment and arrests of multiple defendants in one of the largest multi-state organizations engaged in cigarette trafficking and money laundering on the East Coast. The operation was based in Cumberland County.

Woman picks up 1M cigarette butts and counting
A retired Auburn, California woman spends her days giving back to her community by cleaning up hundreds of thousands of discarded cigarette butts around town.

FDA announces crackdown on menthol, flavored e-cigarettes
The Food and Drug Administration announced it will ban menthol in cigarettes and strictly limit sales of flavored e-cigarettes to teens.

Cutting nicotine in cigarettes pits smokers' lives against tobacco farmers' livelihoods
In addition to the tariffs and ongoing international trade war, North Carolina tobacco farmers face a new hurdle to selling their crop: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is pushing to reduce nicotine levels in cigarettes to non-addictive levels to help curb smoking.

NC farmers fear cutting nicotine will make it harder to export US tobacco
In addition to the tariffs and ongoing international trade war, North Carolina tobacco farmers face a new hurdle to selling their crop: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is pushing to reduce nicotine levels in cigarettes to non-addictive levels to help curb smoking.

Bill would require child-proof caps on e-cigarette liquid
A bill that cleared the Senate Health Care Committee Tuesday would require manufactures to put child-proof caps on containers of liquid used to refill e-cigarettes.

Reynolds gave $50,000 to House GOP group
R.J. Reynolds parent says it gave thousands to a nonprofit affiliated with House lawmakers months after the legislature created a low tax rate for vapor cigarettes.

McCrory blasts French plain-packaging rules
Gov. Pat McCrory has written to the French ambassador to the United States objecting to rules that would strip cigarettes in France of branding.

Jails could sell e-cigarettes to inmates
A bill awaiting Gov. Pat McCrory's signature would allow county jails across North Carolina to sell electronic cigarettes to inmates, even though most jails don't allow tobacco use.