st. paul

So when my friend's child is born in February, hopefully he'll only be able to buy and hand out real cigars, because those candy cigars are way too dangerous.

This is stupid. Doesn't St Paul have better things to do? And whoever complained apparently has nothing better to do than interfere with the operation of a candy store.

$500 fine is a bargain for all the unpaid advertising the store is getting. You notice the lady is smiling in the photo.

@gemie1: I grew up with this candy; we would save our money and go to the local dime store to buy sweets and always got our candy ciggies - but - I also grew up in a household with a 2-3 pack-a-day smoking Mom and a Copenhagen-chewing Dad. Forever disgusted with gagging on cigarette smoke in the car and seeing Dad hock the spit out the car window, I was very strongly deterred from smoking. And, watching Mom die from smoking-related cancer TEN YEARS after she quit - now if that didn't permanently turn me off of smoking, nothing would. And yes, Mom always told us she never wanted us to start smoking because it was disgusting and expensive but she couldn't quit. So I am saying parenting has a role in dissuading children from smoking or picking up other bad habits too. We don't need an overreaching government to step in and tell us we can't sell candy to kids. We need parents stepping up and being parents.

I am wondering how the Star Tribune got hold of this story? Did the woman smiling in the picture call someone from the paper? If you do not like the law, work to have it over turned, but if you are opening up a business, find out the laws. Candy cigarettes are controversial items that are aimed at children.

I used to love going to the candy store and getting stuff like this. Like most of my friends, they never led to us smoking, or chewing tobacco. Kids are smart enough to know the difference, because they can see what smoking does to people. Whether there are candy cigs or not, someone will always start smoking and I've got to smell the second-hand smoke stink. I'd rather they suck on a candy cig that doesn't smell.

It's obvious that common sense has been frozen in time because those in authority have failed to use it in this case; then one has to wonder how many more such laws are on the books?

With all that thriving retail in Saint Paul, (laughs) how dare someone try to start a small business! We all know in Saint Paul you can only work for the government or an insurance company or bank. It's good to know the City has the tax payer money to send the Candy Police around

@gemie1 Dec. 26, 12 4:06 PM I do agree that we have the choice if we want to go back into this candy store. I just don't want my child to associate candy cigarettes with nicotine. I care, because I watched someone very dear die of lung cancer. I remember when I was in Prague, a candy shop sold individual cigarettes for very little money. I saw children smoking. In the case of the Lynden's, they are associating something pleasant with something that is very unhealthy. This candy store is more appropriate for adults and not children. I believe once parents read this article or hear about it, they will take their children some place else. Besides making money, did they think about the message they were sending to children?@...........Many people have lost loved ones due to smoking HOWEVER, if you notice many people here DONT smoke who had the joy of candy cigarettes. Its all about personal responsibility. You are more than welcome to shop elsewhere but why should everyone be punished because some think its not ok? YOU CANT GOVERN PEOPLES MORALS:)

As a kid back in the 50's and 60's I loved the candy cigs and bubble gum cigars. Never smoked as a teen or as an adult.