Tobacco Group Sues Over Law Banning Shipments

group of cigarette distributors sued New York state Wednesday seeking to overturn a law banning Internet, telephone and mail-order tobacco sales, the Associated Press reported.

The Association of Responsible Cigarette Sellers, which filed the suit, said the state’s 2000 law violates the Constitution’s commerce clause, AP said.

David McNamara, the group's lawyer, said the case was bolstered by last year’s Supreme Court ruling striking down New York and Michigan laws banning wine shipments from out-of-state producers, AP reported.

In January, Philip Morris USA, the nation's biggest tobacco company, agreed to end ship-ments of tobacco products to customers, Indian tribes and enterprises that states deem illegal, as part of an agreement with attorneys general for 37 states and territories, AP re-ported.

Package carriers DHL and UPS Inc. also have agreed to stop shipping packages from the vendors. (Click here for previous coverage.)