LETTER: Raise the state’s tobacco tax

Dear Editor,

Our state’s tobacco tax needs to be increased.

Louisiana’s tax on cigarettes is only 36 cents per pack while the national average is $1.48. Raising the cigarette tax by $1.05 and increasing the tax on all other tobacco products by a parallel amount could save lives and money.

I have a family history of Lung Cancer. All were cigarette smokers. I believe by raising the cost of tobacco products, it just might stop the person from buying their first pack.

Increasing the tax could prevent 37,600 kids from becoming addicted to smoking and save 23,000 Louisiana residents from premature smoking-caused death. Increasing the tax could help adults quit smoking, too. It’s estimated that by raising the tax by $1.05, 40,800 adult smokers in the state would kick the habit.

A tobacco tax increase would help Louisiana’s bottom line. It would create a new revenue stream for our state of close to $231 million that can be used to protect critical healthcare programs.

It’s time Louisiana raised its tobacco tax.

Janice Eshliman,

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network volunteer