New Bills Could Triple North Dakota’s Cigarette Tax
Two bipartisan bills, promoted Wednesday by two separate anti-tobacco groups, could force North Dakota smokers three times the cigarette tax they're currently paying.
According to The Bismarck Tribune, North Dakota's current tax is just 44 cents per pack, which is the 46th lowest in the country. One bill, if passed, would increase the tax to $1.54 per pack, more than triple what the tax is currently. This would be the first time since 1993 that the tax would be raised.
Taxes on other tobacco products would also increase, from 28 percent to 43.5 percent of the whole sale purchase price.
A similar bill would increase the tax to $2 per pack.
The hope is that the tax would curb teenagers from smoking, along with deterring adults from continuing their habit.
So, what do you think?