Hawaii is one of the leaders among states raising tobacco taxes, according to a study by the American Lung Association. State’s cigarette taxes to be
State collects extra $22 million
sixth highest in ’04
The association's latest analysis of tobacco laws shows only five other states will have higher cigarette taxes after Hawaii implements increases approved by the Legislature this year. The tobacco tax will be $1.40 per pack beginning June 2004. It is now $1 per pack.
Only Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Michigan and Rhode Island will have higher cigarette taxes after Hawaii's law goes into effect, the study said.
"We're gratified that Hawaii is among the leaders in this category," said Douglas Yee, president of the American Lung Association of Hawaii. Yee urged the state to use the additional tax money to fund programs curbing tobacco use.
"We know that higher taxes make cigarettes more expensive and that keeps more young people from taking up the smoking habit. Our hope would be that the state will use the additional revenue from this tax to fund new tobacco control programs and thus lower health costs in he future," he said.
The analysis shows only New Jersey and Utah have marked the new revenues from higher tobacco taxes for such programs while many states continue to raid their settlement coffers to fund non-tobacco programs.
Star-Bulletin staff