Dear Editor,
Tobacco is the number one cause of preventable death nationwide. This year alone, an estimated 4,400 Kansans will die from tobacco-related disease. Kansas legislators have the opportunity to help bring that number down by passing a significant tobacco tax increase to encourage current tobacco users to quit and prevent young people from ever becoming addicted to these deadly products.
Kansas taxpayers foot the bill for $1.1 billion ($825 per household) in annual health care expenditures directly caused by tobacco use. The state’s $0.79-per-pack cigarette tax has not been increased in 12 years and ranks 36th among states. This makes it cheaper and easier to smoke in Kansas.
Research shows that tobacco tax increases save lives and reduce tobacco-related illnesses like cancer. Increasing the tobacco prices by just $1.50 would keep more than 25,000 young Kansans from picking up a cigarette and help more than 26,400 current smokers quit the deadly habit.
Our lawmakers have a proven tool at their fingertips to help save thousands of lives and I strongly encourage them to utilize it.
Teresa Cass, Great Bend
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network volunteer