LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) The Kansas State Fire Marshall has pulled the plug on about 20 automated roll-your-own cigarette retail outlet stores in Kansas, citing fire hazards from the machines.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reported Friday that the Kansas Department of Revenue licenses the venues, which involve dual machines that allow customers to convert bags of loose tobacco and boxes of unfiltered papers into cigarettes.
Cease-and-desist letters went out in February noting a fire-safety law stipulating cigarettes rolled at commercial establishments had to use a type of paper that resists quick burn rates. Seth Valerius, general counsel with the Kansas fire marshal, said it’s a public safety issue.
Kansas regulators applied the safety standard only to operation of the rolling machines. There is no state law prohibiting individuals from rolling their own cigarettes.
