Maryland Tobacco Tax Increase Will Protect Kids and Save Lives
Statement of Yolonda C. Richardson, President & CEO, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Maryland General Assembly has delivered a big win for kids and health by agreeing on a state budget that includes a $1.25 per pack increase in the state cigarette tax. The budget also increases taxes on other tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. The evidence is clear that increasing the price of cigarettes and other tobacco products is one of the most effective ways to reduce tobacco use, especially among kids. The $1.25 cigarette tax increase will prevent kids from smoking, encourage smokers to quit, save lives and save money by reducing tobacco-related healthcare costs, which total $3.14 billion a year in Maryland.
We applaud Maryland leaders for supporting the tobacco tax increase and look forward to its enactment into law.
The cigarette tax increase will take effect July 1 and bring Maryland’s tax rate to $5 per pack. The cigarette tax increase will have enormous benefits and is projected to:
- Prevent 2,800 Maryland kids from becoming smokers;
- Spur 12,400 current adult smokers to quit;
- Save 3,800 Marylanders from premature, smoking-caused deaths; and
- Save over $186 million in future health care costs.
This bold step will improve health and save lives in Maryland for generations to come.