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Nearly 20 years ago, a U.S. Federal District judge found that the major cigarette manufacturers violated civil racketeering laws for deliberately defrauding the public.
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Governor Sandoval signs bill with cigarette tax increase
June 11, 2015
Nevada Cigarette Tax Increase Will Reduce Suffering and Death from Cancer
Statement of Christopher W. Hansen, President of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 10, 2015 – “The $1 per pack cigarette tax increase signed into law late Tuesday by Gov. Brian Sandoval will help to discourage tobacco use and save lives from cancer and other serious tobacco-related diseases in Nevada. Research shows that regular and significant tobacco tax increases are one of the most effective ways to encourage tobacco users to quit and protect young people from becoming addicted. Nevada’s increase from 80 cents to $1.80 will go into effect July 1.
“Nevada lawmakers’ bipartisan support for this legislation makes a strong statement that reducing the use of this deadly product in the state is a priority. This increase will save an estimated 7,200 lives in Nevada and keep more than 10,200 kids from becoming addicted adult smokers. The tax increase is also expected to prompt more than 15,400 adult smokers in Nevada to quit, all while raising more than $192 million in new revenue in the first two years.
“Tobacco is the number one cause of preventable death nationwide, and is expected to claim the lives of 480,000 Americans this year alone. Considering that one third of all cancer deaths can be attributed to tobacco use, reducing its consumption is absolutely critical in the fight against cancer. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network urges lawmakers in states still considering a significant tobacco tax increase this session to follow Nevada’s lead and do the right thing for the health of their state, as well as its budget.”
Nevada’s $1 per pack increase took the state from being ranked 35th in the nation for its cigarette tax rate to 18th. When Nevada’s increase goes into effect, the national average will shift from $1.54 to $1.56 per pack. However, health costs and lost productivity costs attributed to smoking are conservatively estimated to be $19.16 per pack of cigarettes. Though there are several other state tobacco tax proposals being considered currently, Nevada is the only state in the country to increase their cigarette tax by at least $1 since 2013.
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard.
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