Illinois celebrated a major victory against Big Tobacco this week! Governor Pat Quinn signed into law yesterday morning a $1 cigarette tax increase, bringing the state cigarette tax to $1.98 a pack. With this increase, 38,600 Illinois lives will be saved, 72,700 Illinoisan kids will not start smoking and the state will raise $348.8 million in new revenue annually. It's important to mention that as part of this law, taxes on other tobacco products were raised as well, generating an additional $45.2 million in state revenue and discouraging smokers from switching to other tobacco products when the tax increase goes into effect. All of the revenue from the tax increase will go toward the state Medicaid program and hospitals. This three-year long effort was heavily supported by American Cancer Society volunteers, staff and coalition partners. Their emails, phone calls, letters to the editor, online ads and meeting with lawmakers were instrumental in moving this initiative forward and ultimately getting it passed by the state legislature on May 30. Before the increase, Illinois' cigarette tax was ranked 32nd in the nation. When the law is implemented on June 24, Illinois will be ranked 16th and have a tax well above the $1.49 national average. Consistent increases in tobacco taxes, comprehensive smoke-free laws and constant and substantial funding for programs to help people quit are proven ways to fight back against the tobacco epidemic this country is facing. In fact, we know that every 10 percent increase in the price of tobacco reduces youth smoking rates by 6.5 percent and overall cigarette consumption by 4 percent. Not only do tobacco taxes save lives, but they are a welcome source of income for states facing tough economic challenges. Illinois was the first state to raise its tobacco tax in 2012, but there are opportunities for other states to do the same. In Missouri, voters will have a chance to increase the cigarette tax from 17 cents per pack the lowest in the nation to 90 cents per pack on the November general election ballot. So as we celebrate the victory in Illinois, we continue to look ahead to how more Americans can benefit from lifesaving tobacco control measures. *Images retrieved from: http://bit.ly/KNBJCv & http://bit.ly/K8jCHT
Today’s blog is one of a series of posts highlighting how ACS CAN is examining, prioritizing and pursuing policy interventions that ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to prevent, find, treat and survive cancer. Achieving health equity in communities nationwide is a cornerstone of our mission.