Lets Shift Towards a Healthier Missouri

If tobacco was a new product, would it be legal or even approved by the FDA? Over the past several decades, we’ve learned a lot about the side affects of tobacco – none of which are good.

Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined. Death may not occur instantly after one cigarette, but it claims 9,500 lives per year in Missouri.

The newly proposed Missouri tobacco tax increase of 80 cents per pack of cigarettes is our chance to save lives! Missouri has the lowest tobacco tax in the nation – a mere 17 cents per pack – and some of the highest smoking rates, lung cancer rates, and heart disease rates in the country.

Increasing the taxes on tobacco is a proven method to help decrease smoking rates, especially among children. Check out New York!  The state has increased its tobacco tax, which is now $5.85 per pack, and is noticing a significant drop in smoking rates. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903927204576573232656424162.html

Revenue from the Missouri tax will fund much needed public education, higher education and public health in our state. Right now, Missouri has NO money for tobacco prevention programs, yet the tobacco industry is spending $349 million per year to market products in our state. As a result, nearly 8,600 Missouri children become smokers each year and the annual smoking-related health care costs in Missouri are $2.13 billion, and $532 million in the state Medicaid program.

We can’t afford to have the lowest tobacco tax in the nation anymore. Support the Missouri tobacco tax increase to help eliminate cancer and save lives!