Cubans Cigars

[designwise1]

Yeah. We can't even accept them as gifts. No smoking them overseas... no possession of ANY kind.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but that's the way it is.

[ScoopKW]

Yeah. We can't even accept them as gifts. No smoking them overseas... no possession of ANY kind.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but that's the way it is.

You are mistaken. There are plenty of LEGAL ways for Americans to smoke a Cuban cigar.

If you are delivering medical supplies or charitable aid to Cuba, the Office of Overseas Assets will give you permission to spend money in Cuba. This still does not allow importation of Cuban products into the U.S., but it allows Americans in Cuba to spend money (even on cigars).

Citizens with family members living in Cuba can go visit their relatives every five or six years. They can spend money while there.

Journalists and anyone else with a constitutionally-protected reason to go to Cuba can bring back 100 cigars per excursion for personal consumption. This is how Dave Letterman got his -- CBS reporters in Cuba.

And, yes, if someone gives you a Cuban cigar as a gift while outside America, you can smoke it without any worries. The Cuba embargo is enforced by the Department of the Treasury, not the State Department. You can consume Cuban-made products without purchasing them.

Furthermore, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO RESTRICTION ON TRAVEL TO CUBA. The only restriction is spending money. Since Cuba charges $50 for a visa, that's why most people cannot go.

Here in my home town, lots of people go to Cuba regularly -- hell, you can sail there in about 3 hours. Once in port, the visa is paid for (illegally) and stamped on an index card. When these illegal visitors leave Cuba, they toss the index card. When stopped by the Coast Guard and asked what they were doing in Cuban waters, they answer, "Fishing."
Naturally, if any Cuban goods are found, the boat owners are in deep ka-ka (they'll lose their boat, and it gets worse from there).

[Shelby07]

I'm not sure that your facts are correct, but even if they are, those "plenty of legal ways" are just a tad inconvenient for most of us, wouldn't you say?

[Quint]

hmmm.. I thinking about spending 8 or 900 hundred bucks to go to Cuba to smoke a $10 cigar anybody in ???

[ScoopKW]

I'm not sure that your facts are correct, but even if they are, those "plenty of legal ways" are just a tad inconvenient for most of us, wouldn't you say?

I never claimed any of the above was convenient -- and yes, I just re-read the new tobacco laws, so long as you don't pay for anything it's still OK. Buying through an intermediary (here's $20, buy a cigar and give it to me as a gift") doesn't work.

Going to Cuba is something we talk about here OFTEN down here. The only reason I haven't done it is because I'll be the ONE PERSON who gets caught and prosecuted.

I'm out of the news business, so I can't get there easily anymore. I'm also already married, so I don't have the option of marrying a Cuban girl. One of my best friends IS married to a Cuban national and works for the newspaper here, so goes to Cuba legally quite often. He's my main source of Cuba information.

Down here in Key West, most people think the embargo is a joke.

[Shelby07]

...Down here in Key West, most people think the embargo is a joke.

Judging by the amount of politicians suckin' on cuban cigars, I'd venture to say that the joke has reached a bit further north.

[Loudpipes78]

I'd say ScoopKW has a very unique perspective since he's a mere 90 miles away from Cuba.

I've heard lots of guys in South Florida going down there and taking a long weekend but none will bring anything back at the risk of losing their vessel. How ballsy would it be to be standing on deck when the Coast Guard stopped you. "Oh this... definitely not a Cigar from Cuba."



People are wondering wow strict the embargo really is "some guy I know" got this in December and will rpobably get another bottle this year.

[stjohnroe]

I'd say ScoopKW has a very unique perspective since he's a mere 90 miles away from Cuba.

I've heard lots of guys in South Florida going down there and taking a long weekend but none will bring anything back at the risk of losing their vessel. How ballsy would it be to be standing on deck when the Coast Guard stopped you. "Oh this... definitely not a Cigar from Cuba."



People are wondering wow strict the embargo really is "some guy I know" got this in December and will rpobably get another bottle this year.

Ahh, the 7 year old, lovely