Cigar lovers take to Twitter to celebrate change in U.S.-Cuba policy
Lovers of Cuban cigars are celebrating the news that the loosening of travel restrictions between the United States and Cuba means authorized American travelers will be allowed to return with up to $100 of alcohol and tobacco products.
"That can include cigars," a senior administration official told reporters Wednesday before President Barack Obama announced a historic easing of sanctions against Cuba and the start of talks that may lead to restoring full diplomatic relations between the two countries — and put an end to the 53-year U.S.-imposed trade embargo.
“Today America chooses to cut loose the shackles of the past, so as to reach for a better future for the Cuban people, for the American people, for our entire hemisphere and for the world,” Obama declared at the White House.
But Twitter users were particularly excited about the cigar development.
For American travelers to Cuba, this is an important detail buried in the Obama announcement: $100 worth of cigars and rum will be allowed.
— Marc Lacey (@marclacey) December 17, 2014
Big: Under #Cuba deal, American travelers will be able to return to US with Cuban cigars. http://t.co/UClIinLv7m pic.twitter.com/N2i4vfCpdb
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) December 17, 2014
HERE COME THE CUBAN CIGARS http://t.co/ub93J1qOZe
— Business Insider (@businessinsider) December 17, 2014
For cigar smokers, the Holy Grail is finally in sight... http://t.co/jD0sprDYar pic.twitter.com/8RGTtA5Ddo
— Charles Passy (@CharlesPassy) December 17, 2014
Guess I picked the wrong week to launch my "Uber for Cuban cigars" startup.
— danprimack (@danprimack) December 17, 2014
[skims past article's bits detailing humanitarian relief resulting from the big embargo changes] Cuban Cigars are back, baby!!!! Hell yeah!!
— blupman (@blippoblappo) December 17, 2014
"Diplomatic relations": what everyone heard was "Cuban cigars".
— Sylvain Galineau (@sgalineau) December 17, 2014
Does this mean the Cuban cigars I smuggled home in my luggage are made retroactively legal?
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) December 17, 2014
That sound you hear is Cuban cigars being added to several million Christmas shopping lists.
— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) December 17, 2014
Don't forget about the rum.
Another benefit to normalized relations with Cuba….greater access to Havana Club rum. http://t.co/8quZEHWO7z pic.twitter.com/JopQFfFNmH
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) December 17, 2014
While cigar lovers rejoiced, others looked to throw cold water on the celebration.
Now we’re going to find out that Cuban cigars are not that good.
— Nicholas Carlson (@nichcarlson) December 17, 2014
One of the embargo's, uh, successes RT @MiriamElder Dominican cigars > Cuban cigars
— Olivier Knox (@OKnox) December 17, 2014
How quickly will Cuban cigars go out of style when Americans can directly buy them?
— Nicholas Slayton (@NSlayton) December 17, 2014
they cause cancer RT @ThisIsFusion: You can now legally buy Cuban cigars! But there's a catch: http://t.co/7ReYglJJSB pic.twitter.com/z7XPhxqC0W
— John Cook (@johnjcook) December 17, 2014
