The votes are in- and we now know the fate of several measures, and electoral races which will likely have huge implications for the premium tobacco industry.
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]President of The United States of America
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Trump has won the election in what is being called a surprise victory, as he went into the polls trailing by several points in battleground states. The impact of his Presidency on the premium cigar industry is something that we will be monitoring. It is expected that he will appoint several “pro-cigar” personalities to cabinet positions. With the FDA falling under the executive branch of government, it offers a glimmer of hope for an industry struggling for clarity from the FDA.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Proposition 56-California
[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”5787″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Passed- 63% In Favor
Proposition 56 increases cigarette tax by $2.00 per pack, with equivalent increase on other tobacco products and electronic cigarettes containing nicotine. It is expected that this will equate to an enormous tax on premium cigars, which will lead to wildly higher cigar prices and taxes in California. The impact on retail tobacconists is unknown, but is expected to be severe.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Colorado Tobacco Tax Increase, Amendment 72
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Amendment 72 would have increased the tobacco tax by $1.75 per pack of 20 cigarettes, bringing the total tobacco tax up to $2.59. The tobacco tax on other tobacco products would have been 22 percent of the manufacturer’s list price. E-cigarettes would have been exempt.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Missouri 23 Cent Cigarette Tax, Proposition A
[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”5788″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Defeated- 55% Against
Proposition A was designed to add an additional 23 cents to the state’s tobacco tax. The tax would have increased 13 cents in 2017, 5 cents in 2019, and 5 cents in 2021. It would have also taxed non-cigarette tobacco products 5 percent of the manufacturer’s invoice price, paid by the seller. These taxes would have been repealed upon the placement on the ballot any local or statewide initiative that increases any tax on tobacco.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Missouri 60 Cent Cigarette Tax, Constitutional Amendment 3
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A “yes” vote would have amended the Missouri Constitution to increase taxes on cigarettes each year through 2020, at which point this additional tax will total 60 cents per pack of 20. This amendment also creates a fee paid by cigarette wholesalers of 67 cents per pack of 20 on certain cigarettes. This amendment further provides that the funds generated by these taxes and fees shall be deposited into a newly established Early Childhood Health and Education Trust Fund.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]North Dakota Tobacco Tax Increase, Initiated Statutory Measure 4
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Initiated Statutory Measure 4 was designed to increase the tax on cigarettes from 44 cents per pack to $2.20 per pack and to increase the tax on all other tobacco products from 28 percent of the wholesale purchase price to 56 percent of the wholesale price. The definition of “tobacco products” would have expanded to include liquid nicotine and electronic inhalation devices.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row]
