Tobacco Pricing

Reports

New resources from the Tobacco Control Legal Consortium
The Tobacco Control Legal Consortium has released new fact sheets on “roll-your-own” (RYO) tobacco machines. Click here to get answers to basic questions about RYO tobacco, its impact on public health, and some of the options communities might consider in regulating these products. Click here for basic information on regulating RYO tobacco machines, including policy benefits and options, possible legal challenges, select legislation and policies, and resources.

Roswell Park surveys: Area smokers opt for low-cost reservation cigarettes (NY)
According to a new report, New Yorkers in Erie and Niagara counties are increasingly purchasing cigarette brands that have been manufactured on Native American reservations, rather than products manufactured by leading cigarette companies. The researchers suggest that one reason for the shift could be that these brands cost less and are more accessible, and that New York’s high state cigarette tax has led to a shift in purchasing practices. The authors believe this report increases understanding of product selection and brand preference in New York as a result of tax policy, which can inform public policy debates. Click here to read a press release from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Click here to read the report.

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State Policy

Iowa looking to tax 'roll-your-own' cigarette machines (IA)
Iowa Senator Pam Jochum introduced a bill this month that would tax roll-your-own cigarette machines at the same rate as manufactured cigarettes. This bill, Senate File 2328, would make the machine-rolled cigarettes more expensive and thus would reduce smoking rates, and provide more revenue to the state. The bill’s sponsor believes that if the legislature fails to act this year, the number of machines could increase dramatically due to the tax loophole and price advantage that they offer to smokers. The bill has passed the Senate and is currently under consideration in the House. Click here to read more.

Bill would require roll-your-own retailers to pay cigarette tax, use tobacco from registry (TN)
A bill has been introduced in Tennessee that would require roll-your-own tobacco retailers to pay the state’s cigarette tax and use brands of tobacco that are listed on the state attorney general’s directory of tobaccos. This will place tighter restrictions on the retailers as well as increase the amount of money the state collects from tobacco taxes. Read more here, and click here to track SB 3316, which is currently in the Senate.

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