Legislation : Tobacco Tax Resolution

North Dakota Public Health Association Resolution Supporting a Tobacco Tax Increase

Whereas, tobacco use is a significant public health problem and tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disability in North Dakota and in the United States; [i]

Whereas, The 2000 Surgeon General’s Report, Reducing Tobacco Use, found that raising tobacco-product prices decreases the prevalence of tobacco use, especially among children and young adults. The report concluded that raising tobacco taxes is one of the most effective tobacco prevention and control strategies;[ii]

Whereas, current research indicates that interventions to increase the unit price for tobacco products are effective both in reducing the number of people who start using tobacco and increasing the number who quit;[iii]

Whereas, smoking rates in North Dakota are high, with 21 percent of students [iv] and 19 percent of adults currently smoking. Rates among pregnant women are at 18 percent compared to 11 percent nationwide, and among Native Americans, the smoking rate is 48 percent, more than twice the rate of non-natives;[v]

Whereas, the current excise tax in North Dakota on cigarettes is 44 cents per pack, ranking 41st in the nation. The last increase in the tax occurred in 1993 when the tax was raised from 29 cents to the current 44 cents per pack. Since January 1, 2002, 43 states and several U.S. territories have increased their cigarette tax more than 70 times. Minnesota, South Dakota and Montana have increased their tax levels to over one-dollar above the North Dakota rate;[vi]

Therefore, be it resolved, that the North Dakota Public Health Association
Supports passage and enactment of a state law significantly increasing the North Dakota cigarette excise tax, with equal increases on other tobacco products.