Louisiana Considers Boosting Cigarette Tax by a Dollar

SHREVEPORT, LA - Louisiana lawmakers will be talking about increases the tax on a pack of cigarettes.

The House Ways and Means Committee will be talking about a measure to bump up the tax by a dollar a pack on cigarettes. New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry says Louisiana ranks among the states with the lowest tobacco taxes, and she thinks it's time for a change.

Landry says higher taxes on cigarettes could lead to more people quitting. She has been working to improve health policy in Louisiana and she says this could improve health outcomes for folks who smoke if they are able to stop smoking.

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But opponents say this tax increase will burden low-income smokers and could also hurt small businesses that sell cigarettes.

Louisiana is about middle of the pack for cigarette taxes.

READ MORE: How Much Do We Pay in Gas Taxes?

What States Have the Highest Cigarette Taxes?

The American Lung Association tracks the data.

New York: $5.35 per pack (plus an additional $1.50 local tax in New York City)
District of Columbia: $4.500
Connecticut: $4.350
Rhode Island: $4.250
Maryland: $3.750
Massachusetts: $3.510
Oregon: $3.330
Hawaii: $3.200
Vermont: $3.080
Minnesota: $3.040
Washington: $3.025

The average tax on a pack of cigarettes across the country is $1.93.

What States Have the Highest Cigarette Taxes?

Nebraska 0.640
Tennessee 0.620
Virginia 0.600
Wyoming 0.600
Idaho 0.570
South Carolina 0.570
North Carolina 0.450
North Dakota 0.440
Georgia 0.370
Missouri 0.170

The tax on a pack of cigarettes in Louisiana is $1.080. If this tax passes, it would put the Louisiana tax at $2.08 and move the Bayou State to #18 on the list of states with the highest cigarette taxes.