Maryland Action Center

Raising the Tobacco Tax makes "Cents"

The American Cancer Society will be working with the AARP, MedChi, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative and the faith community to increase the tax on non-cigarette tobacco products from 15% of wholesale to 66% of wholesale and designate the revenue to tobacco control programs, expanding Medicaid and addressing health disparities.

Elected officials have the power to save lives, reduce health care costs, and generate much-needed revenue through increasing taxes on ALL tobacco products including raising the tax on cigars and other tobacco products (OTP) to be at the same rate as cigarettes.

Please join us along with other advocates on March 7 at noon in front of the State House for a Healthy Maryland Initiative Media Event to urge our state lawmakers to increase the tax on cigarettes by a $1.00 per pack and increase the tax on other tobacco products.  

Tobacco Tax HearingsWe are needing organizations as well as individuals to come out and testify in support at both upcoming hearings.  Speaker panels are being coordinated at this time.  If you can testify, please contact Sherry McCammon at sherry.mccammon@cancer.org.

The hearing dates are-  Senate Budget and Taxation Committee Hearing on March 7 at 1:00 and  House Ways and Means Committee hearing on March 9 at 1:00.  The bill #'s are House Bill 1153 and Senate Bill 526.   Link to bills.  http://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/billfile/SB0526.htm

Take Action Now! Please contact your state lawmakers and urge them to pass tobacco tax legislation this year. Tobacco taxes are a win, win, win. They reduce youth tobacco use, generate needed revenue for the state, and save lives.  And as an added bonus, majority of Maryland voters support increasing tobacco taxes.  Click here to take action.

Recently, the Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative released the results of a new statewide poll showing that Maryland voters overwhelmingly support increasing the state’s tax on cigars and smokeless tobacco.  Seventy-two percent of Maryland voters endorse this proposal, with fifty-four percent strongly endorsing it.  Click here for poll summary

The Tobacco-Free Kids stated that if Maryland increases its current OTP tax to 66% wholesale price, it would generate $29.5 million in new revenue.  Overall consumption would decline by about 18%, and youth prevalence would decline by 33.4%.  Furthermore, if Maryland increased its cigarette tax rate by $1.00 and increased its OTP tax rate to 95% to match the new cigarette tax rate, it would generate $38.6 million in new revenue, reduce overall consumption by about 28%, and youth prevalence by 52%.

Raising tobacco taxes minimizes the health consequences of smoking and reduces health care expenditures.  As a result of enacting comprehensive tobacco control policies over the past decade in Maryland like tobacco tax increases, establishment of the Tobacco Prevention Program, and the passage of the statewide smoke-free indoor air law, adult smoking rates declined by 32.6% between 1998 and 2009, resulting in over 70,000 lives saved.  

The American Cancer Society urges the Maryland General Assembly to pass a $1.00 cigarette tax and to increase the tax on other tobacco products at the same rate as cigarettes AND restore funding for Maryland Tobacco Control Program.

The Cigar Trap The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is executing a statewide campaign on youth cigar use, which will overlap with the tobacco tax bill as it targets the low price of small, flavored cigars.  There are already billboards popping up around Baltimore, radio spots are on, and the website has great fact sheets and other info you may find useful.  Click here for more information.