As the dollar increase on tobacco products goes into effect this week, some very strong opinions have arisen as a result of the new law. It is common knowledge at this point that the tax hike on cigarettes went into effect Sunday, but what many may not know is that included in this tax is a new form of classification for certain other tobacco products. Miniature cigars, generally less than a dollar when sold individually and two dollars cheaper than cigarettes when sold in packs, now fall in the same category as cigarettes, causing a hefty leap in their price.
![]()
The daily or regular patrons of the three smoke shops in town have been stocking up these last few weeks, and although these shops have seen a boom in business, most believe it will come to a screeching halt after Sunday.
An employee at the One Stop Smoker’s Shop, Robert Burton, believes many will either quit or begin traveling out of state to procure their tobacco needs.
"The hardcore regulars won’t care, but people with the ability to travel or those who just stop in every now and then won’t be around anymore," Burton said.
This may cause an initial drop in sales for the shop, but “there will always be a demand. Times get hard, people get stressed and they smoke.” Burton hopes to soon become a “reformed smoker” as a result of the tax increase.
Similarly, L&D Discount Smoke Shop and Discount Tobacco Warehouse have seen much business in the last couple weeks, but both places were significantly slower Sunday.
Sara Hitz, of L&D Discount Smoke Shop, recognizes the fact that this is not the first, and probably won’t be the last, tax increase on tobacco products.
"People say they will stop every time the price goes up," Hitz said.
She is thankful for the drive-up at L&D, which helps to secure most of their business. She does predict, though, that “there will only be one smoke shop in town eventually. I don’t know which one it will be, but it is just a matter of time.”
Hitz is a smoker but does not plan to stop due to the tax hike, although someone in the store mentioned that a pack of cigarettes is almost equal to the pay for an hour of work.
As the new store on the block, Discount Tobacco Warehouse did not pick an ideal time to open business. Mackenzie Boland, an employee at Discount Tobacco Warehouse, is confident that although the store is new, people will still buy cigarettes there, because they are the cheapest in town. As a non-smoker, Boland does not really think about the tax that much, because it does not affect her. She did say, however, that she does feel sorry for those it does affect.
In each smoke shop, the tax increase was the main topic of discussion. Some were unaware of the increase, while others knew it was coming but that didn’t make it easier to swallow.
As the dollar increase on tobacco products goes into effect this week, some very strong opinions have arisen as a result of the new law. It is common knowledge at this point that the tax hike on cigarettes went into effect Sunday, but what many may not know is that included in this tax is a new form of classification for certain other tobacco products. Miniature cigars, generally less than a dollar when sold individually and two dollars cheaper than cigarettes when sold in packs, now fall in the same category as cigarettes, causing a hefty leap in their price.
The daily or regular patrons of the three smoke shops in town have been stocking up these last few weeks, and although these shops have seen a boom in business, most believe it will come to a screeching halt after Sunday.
An employee at the One Stop Smoker’s Shop, Robert Burton, believes many will either quit or begin traveling out of state to procure their tobacco needs.
"The hardcore regulars won’t care, but people with the ability to travel or those who just stop in every now and then won’t be around anymore," Burton said.
This may cause an initial drop in sales for the shop, but “there will always be a demand. Times get hard, people get stressed and they smoke.” Burton hopes to soon become a “reformed smoker” as a result of the tax increase.
Similarly, L&D Discount Smoke Shop and Discount Tobacco Warehouse have seen much business in the last couple weeks, but both places were significantly slower Sunday.
Sara Hitz, of L&D Discount Smoke Shop, recognizes the fact that this is not the first, and probably won’t be the last, tax increase on tobacco products.
"People say they will stop every time the price goes up," Hitz said.
She is thankful for the drive-up at L&D, which helps to secure most of their business. She does predict, though, that “there will only be one smoke shop in town eventually. I don’t know which one it will be, but it is just a matter of time.”
Hitz is a smoker but does not plan to stop due to the tax hike, although someone in the store mentioned that a pack of cigarettes is almost equal to the pay for an hour of work.
As the new store on the block, Discount Tobacco Warehouse did not pick an ideal time to open business. Mackenzie Boland, an employee at Discount Tobacco Warehouse, is confident that although the store is new, people will still buy cigarettes there, because they are the cheapest in town. As a non-smoker, Boland does not really think about the tax that much, because it does not affect her. She did say, however, that she does feel sorry for those it does affect.
In each smoke shop, the tax increase was the main topic of discussion. Some were unaware of the increase, while others knew it was coming but that didn’t make it easier to swallow. Enditem
