[Past Your Eyes]

I'm no longer a smoker so it doesn't directly affect me. But, as a resident of New Hampshire, I feel sad for the people of Maine. Their governor and legislature seem bound and determined to tax the whole state into oblivion. There is a little store in Conway, NH, just across the line from Fryeburg, ME, that was already doing a land office business from Mainers even before this jump. I can just imagine that their business is going to increase dramatically now.

[evolved_rage]

There is a little store in Conway, NH

Shhhhhh. Or we'll end up with State Smoke Shops here as well.

[Gay State Conservative]

They can do what we here in the Taxachusetts do in such
cases...go to NH....order over the Internet.

[556x45]

There's a reason for that....when the state is the biggest employer how else are they going to generate operating revenue. The people of ME have the government they deserve.

[montomike]

It will be interesting to see if the "increase" in the tax per pack of death will lead to a decrease in total tax revenues.

Montomike Laffer

[AlaskaErik]

I'm no longer a smoker so it doesn't directly affect me.

Yeah, it does. Remember Martin Niemoeller?

Germany 1930's and 40's

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out--because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out--because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out--because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-- because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak out for me.

USA 2000's

First they taxed cigarettes, and I did not speak out--because I was not a smoker:
Then they taxed alcohol, and I did not speak out--because I was not a drinker....

Tobacco and alcohol can only be taxed so much. Eventually, you'll be paying exhorbinant taxes on something to feed the insatiable appetite of big government.

[shooter223]

been $2.00 a pack in michigan for a while(known locally as the "Jennifer Tax" after Gov. Jennifer Granholm)...a word about internet cigarette sales.......some states (Michigan for sure, I've heard rumors of others) have been getting court orders for customer lists and sending bills for unpaid taxes

[thackney]

its worse than that in Anchorage and some other places

http://tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0267.pdf

[JOE43270]

Everyone needs to wake up! The leftists, that I call COMMUNISTS, Have created this mess. I don't care if it is cigarettes, gas, or bridges to no where. The EPA, lawyers, and the leftist like chappaquidick fatz and all his buddies created this mess. People blame President Bush for Katrina, no one realizes that our people in uniform keep the terrorists out of our AMERICA, and alot listen to the mainstream media. This is ONE NATION UNDER GOD. God gave us our RIGHTS and FREEDOMS and the FOUNDING FATHERS put it all in writing. Come on AMERICA let's drill for oil on our ground, start realizing that if you smoke you might get cancer, and tell the legistlature that is our real enemy not President Bush to get to work for us. We need to stop handing out those monthly checkes to people that are saying that they are owed to them. Let them get a job. Find the really destitute and sick Americans that need our help and help them. God Bless America!

[Mr Ramsbotham]

If government were really serious about discouraging tobacco use, they'd do just the opposite of what they're doing now and slap price controls on cigarettes, with a maximum allowable price just below what's needed to make them profitable.

[shooter223]

also heard that all of the major credit card companies (in an agreement with ATF) will no longer pay websites that sell cigs across state lines........suggest finding a truck driver friend who passes through Kentucky

[Rudder]

...bags of loose rolling tobacco as a sideline to its main products, cigars and pipe products.

Ever since Taft raised the tax here in Ohio on cigarettes by $0.75, I've been bying loose tobbaco, cigarette tubes and a cheap, but easy to use, tube stuffer. I used to lay out $7.48 per day now it costs me $0.92 per day.

[layman]

The increase is one of the latest in an extensive series of steps the state has taken to discourage smoking

No ... it's the latest step in an effort to increase TAXES.

[AMERIKA]

"tax to $2 that just took effect"

LOL.. In 1970 a pack of smokes cost 24 cents.

A gallon of gas cost 29 cents...

[Fledermaus]

Well, that's what you get you mindless sheep of Maine that keep putting these morons into office.

One word for them: TOUGH!

[billhilly]

I've been around a very long time, and used to "roll my own" when money got short. Smoking was accepted, and even celebrated during and after WWII. In the movies of those days the most sophisticated stars smoked in most of their scenes.

I quit smoking for personal reasons on April 19, 2001, but have never, and will never, complain about another person's right to smoke.

Public health problems, such as sodomy, are politically accepted, and even celebrated by the leftists in this country. After all, votes are accepted, no matter where they come from.

The simple political truth is this. The behavior that votes for me is acceptable.

[Fledermaus]

My wife and fell in love with Conway on our NE trip many years ago. We changed many plans to be able to stay a couple of days longer.

We then went back just to visit there for a week a few years later.

[Pessimist]

I'm a smoker and I can remember when people said "when it gets to $2.00 / pack, I'm quitting". Then $3.00... then $4.00, etc...

The price of cigarettes is really remarkably elastic.