I dont understand the concept. Smokers are using a product that if they didnt use, the government would make NO money. The government raised the tax to a point where it was more attractive to buy elsewhere than pay the tax. This is called free exchange of goods and services. (Free enterprise). There is no cheating here; this situation allows for no such thing as cheating. If the price is too high, buy elsewhere.
These people need to tell the state of New York to go to hell. From what I understand, it is still illegal to tax internet sales unless the store has a physical location in your state. When I make internet purchases of other goods there are no taxes unless there is a physical store in Kentucky.
This is nothing but greed.
While at it include California and Massachusetts!