Tobacco Taxes

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Tobacco Control

Increasing tobacco taxes are proven to be an effective way to prevent children from smoking and help adults quit.  

We are working in states across the country and in Congress to save more lives by passing regular and significant tax increases on all tobacco products. And this doesn't just include cigarettes, but also other dangerous products like smokeless tobacco and cigars. 

State cigarette taxes range from a low of 17 cents per pack in Missouri to a high of $5.35 per pack in New York. Additionally, Puerto Rico taxes cigarettes at $5.10 per pack.

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Proposed Tobacco Tax Increase Will Save Lives and Save Dollars for Mainers

January 28, 2025
Maine

In addition to lives saved, Mills' budget proposal will deliver short term revenue increases and reduce long term tobacco related healthcare costs for all Mainers.

Advocates Call on West Virginia Lawmakers and Governor to Increase Prevention Funding to Reduce Tobacco's Devastating Toll

January 14, 2025
West Virginia

West Virginia has the highest adult smoking rate in the country, over 28% of West Virginia high school students use tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, and nearly 38% of cancer deaths can be attributed to smoking in the state, the highest smoking-attributable cancer death rate in the country.

Advocates Urge South Dakota Lawmakers to Provide the Tools to Detect, Defeat Breast Cancer, Keep Tobacco Fund Intact

January 14, 2025
South Dakota

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota legislators begin a new session today and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network advocates will urge them to take the opportunity to assure those at risk for breast cancer have the tools needed for early detection and defeat of the disease. Regular mammograms are an

Patient Advocates Applaud Governor Mills on Tobacco Tax Proposal

January 13, 2025
Maine

In proposing to increase Maine’s tax on cigarettes $1 per pack, Governor Mills’ has taken a historic step in the fight to curb tobacco product use among Mainers.

Tobacco Taxes Resources

State Tobacco Tax Increases: Explanations and Sources for Projections of New Revenues & Benefits

January 8, 2025

The economic model developed jointly by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (TFK), the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), and Economics for Health (housed at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health) projects the increase in state revenues, public health benefits, and health care cost savings resulting from increases in state cigarette tax rates.  The projections are updated annually.  Calculations are based on economic modeling by Frank Chaloupka, Ph.D., and John Tauras, Ph.D., at the Institute for Health Research and Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Jidong Huang, Ph.D., at Georgia State University, and Michael Pesko, Ph.D., at the University of Missouri.

Effective Policies Known to Prevent Tobacco Use and Address Tobacco-Related Disparities

July 23, 2024

Tobacco use has been found to be one of the primary drivers of cancer-related health disparities because its use disproportionately impacts people based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, mental health, income level, education level, and geographic location. Achieving health equity relies heavily on eliminating tobacco use. ACS CAN is pursuing fact-based tobacco control policies at the local, state and federal levels that aim to reduce disparities and improve health outcomes for everyone.

Tobacco Excise Tax Increases: Save Lives. Reduce Health Care Costs. Generate Revenue.

July 23, 2024

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) supports a comprehensive approach to tobacco control that includes significantly increasing excise taxes on all tobacco products to generate revenue, protect kids, and save lives. Significant tobacco tax increases are one of the most effective ways to prevent kids from starting to use tobacco and help adults quit.