A-G sues mail-order tobacco company

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller has launched a lawsuit against a mail-order tobacco company that advertises cheap, tax-free cigarettes. Miller says the Smokers Warehouse will mail you bags of tobacco and a machine to roll your own smokes. He says they send a three-carton amount of tobacco that is advertised at costing the smoker just 67 cents a pack. Miller says it’s impossible for the cigarettes to cost so little if the taxes are included. Miller says Iowa law doesn’t let smokers off if the company doesn’t pay the tax. He says if Smokers Warehouse doesn’t pay the tax, the individual smoker is liable for the tax. Miller says he’s also concerned that kids could order the cigarettes after his office used a 14-year-old to test the company’s age verification. He says the did ask if the person was 18, and then took the person’s word and didn’t attempt to verify the age. Miller says the suit asks the company to change its ways and start following the law. He says he wants them to collect the tax, to make sure their advertising is accurate, and to check to be sure they aren’t selling cigarettes to minors. Miller says there are several other such companies that try to get around the cigarette taxes, and he hopes this lawsuit sends a message to them.