That will annoy the anti-smoking, tax-grubbing crowd for awhile.....until they mount a Constitutional Amendment banning smoking and tobacco (which I believe they WILL do).
They won’t do that because tobacco provides an easy revenue stream via sin taxes.
I don’t smoke, but they recently raised the tax here in Maryland to a level that would seem to have passed beyond the threshhold of tobacco addiction and has had the effect of having people either quit smoking or smuggle their cigs in from neighboring states (PA, WV VA and DE). I understand that one store in Harpers Ferry, WV has seen it’s sale of cigs spike with a 500% increase in the last few months.
Way to go Governor Dufus!!
At least one store chain that I know of in Maryland, Weggmans, has also quit on the sale of cigarettes altogether. Curiously, the store takes the high road on the issue, stating that they have stopped sales in the interest of public health, but everyone knows how cost-prohibitive the management of anti-theft of tobacco is in retail.
I do agree with your premise; if it is “so bad” the government should simply outlaw smoking, but I disagree with your prediction and outcome. They never will.
They’ll just make you feel really bad and evil for engaging in this nasty habit. Too bad this state doesn’t draw as hard a line for murderers, rapists and child molesters!