Central Coast News KION/KCBAProposed Cigarette Tax Hike To Raise Millions, But Not For Deficit

Proposed Cigarette Tax Hike To Raise Millions, But Not For Deficit

SALINAS, Calif. -- It's a proposed tax hike that will really get smokers fuming.  A new initiative on the June ballot is asking voters to approve a one dollar tax hike on a pack of cigarettes, on top of the 87 cents they already pay.  It's called the "Tobacco Tax for Cancer Research Act" and the name says it all.

The money would go to cancer research and tobacco prevention programs.

"If cigarette smoking is bad for you, make it illegal.  Don't steal money from people that are doing something to fund whatever you want done," said John Orfanides, Cigarette Shop Owner.

The state says it would raise about $855 million dollars, even though less than 13 percent of you smoke.  John Orfanides owns a cigarette shop in Salinas and he thinks the state is wrong.

"It will weed out people that can't afford it. I have customers that come in and pay with change. I mean I never have to go to the bank for change because literally, people are dumping change on me every day," said Orfanides.

Because of the economy and the price of cigarettes going up, smokers are ditching the pack of cigarettes and making it themselves.

"40 bucks a pack compared to like 20 dollars or something like that. I'm planning on quitting," said Dean Bradley, smoker.

The money that is raised will go to help anti-smoking programs and cancer research because tax policy forces it there.  Taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and other vices can not go towards the state budget.

On Wednesday, the California Cancer Research Act Coalitions will be in Salinas and Watsonville to support the tax hike.