Georgia Senate Majority leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock)is opposing a $1 tax increase on cigarettes (taxes were last raised from $0.12 to $0.37 in 2003 and lag way behind the average state tax on cigarettes of $1.37 per pack).
His concern is that higher tobacco taxes will lead more youths experimenting with marijuana. He quotes 'a recent edition of Reason Magazine' as the source of this information. Specifically, he says: 'in those states where cigarette taxes went dramatically high, young people began turning toward marijuana more often.'
Unfortunately, the only article that touches on this subject says nothing of the kind. Jody Sullum's December 2009 article Pot Is Now More Popular Than Tobacco chronicles the stunning success of our youth smoking prevention campaigns, where daily smoking prevalence among Grade 12s fell from 28.8% in 1977 to 11.2% today. During the same period pot use has also dropped about half of what it was in 1979 (from over 14% to around 7%) so I'm really not sure how or why Mr. Rogers feels that we have a problem.
The reality is that raising taxes are a proven way of reducing tobacco use, particularly among youths. To see the evidence, go here
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