Push on to raise Maryland cigarette tax to $3 a pack

The Washington Times ^ | October 6, 2011 | David Hill

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

A Maryland health advocate who fought successfully this year for an increase in the state’s alcohol sales tax is pushing for a tax increase on cigarettes.

Vincent DeMarco, president of the Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative, says the group will start a campaign next week asking the General Assembly to increase the state’s $2-a-pack tax on cigarettes to $3 and raise taxes on other tobacco products, including cigars and smokeless tobacco.

Mr. DeMarco — a health lobbyist who has long championed so-called “sin taxes” on tobacco and alcohol — hopes to build on momentum from this year’s assembly, in which legislators voted to increase the state’s alcohol sales tax from 6 percent to 9 percent after several years of lobbying.

“It’s a great public-health measure. Our goal would be that all smokers would stop smoking,” he said Thursday, adding that more than 100 community groups already have backed the tobacco-tax proposal. “Many smokers appreciate increases in the tobacco tax to help them quit.”

Maryland taxed smokers just 36 cents a pack on cigarettes before 1999, when the rate was increased to 66 cents. A second increase moved the rate to $1 in 2002, and state lawmakers again raised the tax, to $2 a pack, during their 2007 special session.

The state’s $2 rate on cigarettes is tied for 11th highest in the country, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators. The District tax is $2.50 a pack, while Pennsylvania and Delaware charge $1.60 and Virginia charges 30 cents — the second-lowest rate in the country behind Missouri’s 17 cents.

New York has the highest tax rate on cigarettes at $4.35 a pack.

[sauropod]

All you have to do to avoid the taxes is roll your own.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

You just became aware of that? The tax went up on July 1.