According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco use raises taxes higher
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) – As of Friday, January 1, Oregon’s cigarette tax will increase by $ 2 per pack and e-cigarettes will be taxed for the first time in Oregon, after voters overwhelmingly approved Measure 108 last month. .
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) was one of the leading health organizations working as part of the Yes on 108 campaign to pass Measure 108, which garnered 2-to-1 voter approval.
Oregon’s cigarette tax will now be $ 3.33 per pack, the sixth highest in the country and the highest on the West Coast.
“The significant increase in the price of all tobacco products could reduce usage, and this new cigarette tax is expected to save nearly 12,000 Oregon lives and prevent nearly 19,000 children and young adults from starting to smoke,” the cancer group said. news release, which continues below:
‘This is the most important increase in cigarette taxes in Oregon history that will lower smoking rates. And by finally taxing e-cigarettes, we can fight the epidemic of youth’s use of e-cigarettes and take a critical step forward to protect young people from the tobacco industry in a life addiction, ‘said Jamie Dunphy, director of the government of Oregon, said. for ACS CAN. “This is an important victory for everyone, because we know that tobacco use is still the leading cause of preventable death.”
ACS CAN encourages Oregonians who want to stop using tobacco to contact the state’s tobacco stopline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or online at quitnow.net/Oregon. And Espanol at 1-800-1-855-DEJELO-YA or quitnow.net/Oregonsp.
In addition to saving lives, the increase in cigarette taxes is expected to generate nearly $ 135 million in annual revenue, according to forecasts by ACS CAN, the campaign for tobacco-free children and tobacco economy.
The new revenue will provide access to health care on the Oregon Health Plan at a time when health care coverage is critical, and will fund state tobacco prevention and cessation programs to help people successfully quit tobacco. Oregon’s tobacco control program is funded at only 25.6% of the level recommended by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, ACS CAN said.
“This new tobacco tax is a triple profit: it will save lives, fund life-saving health care programs and reduce health care costs for all,” Dunphy continued. Smoking currently costs the state $ 1.54 billion in annual health care costs, including $ 347.6 million in Medicaid costs. Each Oregon household pays $ 736 in taxes to cover these smoking-related costs.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) makes cancer a top priority for public officials and candidates at the federal, state, and local levels. ACS CAN empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and have an impact on evidence-based public policy change, as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden.
As the American Cancer Society is a non-profit, non-partisan law firm, ACS CAN is critical to the fight for a world without cancer. Visit www.fightcancer.org for more information.