Possible Tobacco Tax Increase

Missouri voters will have a chance to raise the cigarette tax in the state on the November 6th ballot.Right now, Missouri has the lowest cigarette tax in the country at 17-cents per pack.Opponents for Prosition B argue that it hurts poor people the most , but proponents believe it makes Missouri look bad to have the cheapest cigarettes in the country.If passed, Proposition B will raise taxes on cigarettes by 73 cents a pack. That would generate a 90 cent tax increase on cigarettes if passed on November 6th.The “Show-Me a Brighter Future Bus Tour” or known as the “Proposition B Bus Tour” went across Missouri the past two weeks to educate voters on where that money would go toward.The spokesperson of the bus tour said, “Fifty percent of that money would go toward public elementary schools, 30 percent would go to higher education, and 20 percent would go towards tobacco prevention.”The American Cancer Society was also on board the bus and they explained why nicotene is so addicting.They also said, smokers say they smoke to help them relax, but there is something they don’t realize.Research shows that smoking can lead to harder drugs and “The Show-Me a Brighter Future Bus Tour” said they are trying to help educate younger people to never begin in the first place so they don’t become addicted.