Cigar Association of America

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The Cigar Association of America (CAA) is the leading national trade association of the entire cigar industry.

10/23/2026

Jackie Clark, Director of Stakeholder Relations at the Cigar Association of America, has been named one of the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics’ (NILE) 2026 Top Lobbyists.

At CAA, Jackie serves as our Missouri lobbyist. In addition, she works with the members, partners, and policymakers who shape the industry’s advocacy, from growers and manufacturers to officials in statehouses and Washington, D.C.

NILE selected 100 honorees from more than 500 nominations, a record for the program, through a blind peer-review process. See the full list of 2026 honorees: https://www.lobbyinginstitute.com/post/announcing-2026-top-lobbyists

10/21/2026

Tomorrow is the first installment of CAA’s new Virtual Lunch & Learn Series, and there’s still time to register.

Join us Thursday, October 22, at 1 PM EDT for a members-only conversation with Mitch Langer of Premium To***co Payment Processing (PTP). Following PTP’s presentation at our May Legislative & Policy Conference, several members asked for more detail on the program. This session picks that conversation back up.

What we’ll cover:
-What PTP is and the needs it was created to address
-The payment-processing challenges unique to to***co and cigar businesses
-How PTP supports the industry beyond payment services
-How a portion of PTP’s proceeds supports CAA’s advocacy work
-Your questions, answered directly by Mitch

Members can register using the link CAA emailed. Join us virtually and bring your lunch.

10/16/2026

CAA sponsored ci**rs and a hole at Rhode Island House Speaker Christopher Blazejewski’s golf event at Valley Country Club on Oct. 5.

Our thanks to Rep. Thomas Noret for putting the event together and including CAA, and to CAA teammate Peg Sweeney for representing the association at the event.

Photo credit: Rep. Tom Noret, center, with two supporters at the Speaker’s event.

10/14/2026

Effective advocacy starts long before a bill reaches a vote.

CAA takes a proactive approach to protecting the cigar industry, with our government affairs team working year-round to identify emerging issues, engage with industry partners, and ensure the industry's voice is part of the conversation early with lawmakers.

From monitoring legislation across the country to building relationships in state capitals and Washington, D.C., CAA works to stay ahead of the issues that could impact our members and the entire cigar industry.

That groundwork shows up in the results: proposed tax increases stopped, online cigar sales protected, cigar bars and cigar gardens expanded, and a first federal policy fly-in. It also shows up in smaller moments, like hosting a reception with legislators in Chicago and a Congressional Cigar Caucus meeting on Capitol Hill.

That means not just responding to challenges as they arise but working every day to help shape a stronger environment for the industry.

10/01/2026

Last Wednesday, ci**rs were front and center at a Wisconsin legislative event hosted by State Representative Bob Wittke, a proud cigar consumer. CAA team member Thomas Moore was on hand to connect with attendees and represent the industry.

Time with lawmakers is an important part of the Cigar Association of America’s work in state capitols across the country.

09/29/2026

Earlier this month at InterTabac 2026 in Dortmund, Dan Cotter, Vice President of Finance & Operations at the Cigar Association of America, joined Eva Mengeringhausen, Director of Program Conception and Planning at Westfalenhallen / InterTabac, ahead of his breakout session at the Cigar Culture Summit.

On September 16, Dan presented "Inside the U.S. Cigar Market: Performance Trends and Business Signals," drawing on CAA's industry-leading data to examine what's moving the market: major category performance, import activity, wholesale movement, retail pricing trends, and the consumer behavior shaping where the industry heads next.

As the authority on cigar industry data, CAA was proud to bring a seed-to-sale perspective to the global stage.

09/25/2026

The Cigar Association of America (CAA) has announced entrepreneur and author Joshua Evarts as a speaker at the 2026 CAA & PTC Annual Meeting, November 5-7 at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida.

Evarts brings decades of experience building and transforming businesses, from founding the largest short-run optical media production company in the United States to serving as chief technology officer at a $200 million defense contractor. He continues to lead the development and revitalization of historic downtown properties in Meridian, Idaho, including the restored Bank of Meridian, home of Vault Cigar Lounge.

During his session, Evarts will share how the connections he has built throughout his career have played a key role in his success, and how relationships shape leadership and help members strengthen their businesses.

Read the full press release: https://ci**rsusa.org/annual-meeting-joshua-evarts/

09/24/2026

Caribbean Day honored Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clark and Rep. Stacy Plaskett during the CBC Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. CAA put cigar heritage front and center with policy leaders from across the country including House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY), Rep. Stacy Plaskett (VI), U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., and Rep. Valerie Foushee (NC) and many others who stopped by to learn more about the cigar industry.

09/17/2026

The cigar industry is gaining ground on the issues that matter most, from statehouses across the country to Capitol Hill.

This year brought our first-ever federal policy fly-in, with member leaders in Washington, D.C., sitting down with policy experts and the Federal Cigar Caucus to put the industry's priorities directly in front of the people who shape them.

State by state, the wins continue to add up:
-South Dakota: SB 1215 was signed into law, allowing cigar bars to expand statewide.
-Washington: Testimony before the Senate Ways & Means Committee helped stop one of the session's largest proposed cigar tax increases.
-Idaho: Mobile cigar sales and cigar gardens legalized.
-Utah: HB 447 clears the path for online cigar sales in 2027, following years of effort.
-Oregon: A bill that would have banned all remote to***co sales amended to keep online cigar sales intact.
-Illinois: Cigar taxes capped at $0.75 for the next three years.
-Rhode Island, Louisiana, and Michigan: Three more wins on tax, va**ng, and cigar bar protections.

Watch the full mid-year recap below.

09/11/2026

CAA heads to InterTabac 2026 for the Cigar Culture Summit.

Next week, Dan Cotter, Vice President of Finance & Operations at the Cigar Association of America, will present "Inside the U.S. Cigar Market: Performance Trends and Business Signals" in Dortmund.

Drawing on CAA's industry-leading data, Dan will break down what's moving the market: major category performance, import activity, wholesale movement, retail pricing trends, and the consumer behavior shaping where the industry heads next.

When: Wednesday, September 16, 11:00 AM
Where: Conference Room London, Entrance North

As the authority on cigar industry data, CAA is proud to bring a seed-to-sale perspective to the global stage.

Session details: https://www.intertabac.de/en/events/inside-the-u-s-cigar-market-performance-trends-and-business-signals-2/

Address

525 9th Street, NW, Suite 375
Washington D.C., DC
20004

Telephone

+12022238204

Website

http://www.cigarsusa.org/

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