Regional Analysis continued...
Region 7: Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri
There was little tobacco control movement in this region in 2003. The region continues to lag behind the rest of the country in tobacco control spending and smokefree air laws. Missouri has yet to spend any Master Settlement Agreement money on tobacco prevention programs. Iowa suffered a major setback with a court ruling that effectively preempted local tobacco control activity. Kansas leads the region with a cigarette tax of $0.79 per pack. The average tax rate is lowered by Missouri, whose tax of $0.17 per pack is one of the lowest in the country.
Region 7 average cigarette tax: $0.49.
Iowa lost a court battle over local control of smokefree ordinances. Stemming from a lawsuit supported by Philip Morris against a local ordinance in Ames, the Iowa Supreme Court overturned a lower court decision and reinstated preemption of local smokefree air laws, effectively throwing out the Ames law.
Region 8: Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado
Portrayed as "Marlboro Country" by the tobacco industry, this region has taken on the industry in high-profile local smokefree ordinance campaigns in states such as Montana and North Dakota, as well as passing increasingly higher tobacco taxes. In 2003, taxes were the big story in these states. Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming—traditionally low-tax states—all raised their cigarette taxes significantly. Unfortunately, Montana passed a law retroactively preempting several local smokefree air ordinances, including a comprehensive workplace law in the capital, Helena. In North Dakota, advocates worked to support and enforce a strong smokefree ban in the city of Minot. Utah stands out in this region as the state with the strongest smokefree air laws as well as the lowest tobacco use rate in the country.
Region 8 average cigarette tax: $0.53.
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Montana passed a law to preempt local smokefree ordinances, nullifying a very strong smokefree ordinance in Helena that was passed with the support of nearly two-thirds of the voters.
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Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming increased cigarette taxes. Montana more than tripled the cigarette tax by increasing it from $0.18 to $0.70. South Dakota increased the excise tax on cigarettes by $0.20 to $0.53 cents per pack and Wyoming quintupled its tax by increasing it from $0.12 to $0.60 per pack.
Region 9: California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii
The states of this region have long been in the forefront of tobacco control issues. The organized grassroots smokefree air movement began in California. As the first state to pass a comprehensive statewide smokefree air law, California remains a leader in innovative tobacco control and smokefree air policy. Arizona had one of the first nationally recognized tobacco prevention programs and Hawaii was the second state in the nation to go to $1.00 cigarette excise tax. Both Arizona and Hawaii were able to maintain at least 90 percent of the CDC Best Practices minimum guideline, earning A’s for prevention control program funding. In 2003, little state-level tobacco control activity was noted in this region. Hawaii raised its cigarette tax as part of a multi-year plan passed in 2001. California successfully defended itself against a lawsuit from the tobacco industry over its successful anti-tobacco marketing campaign. Nevada became one of only three states (Louisiana and Delaware are the others) to partially repeal smokefree air preemption.
Region 9 average cigarette tax: $1.04.
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Over 80 percent of Hawaii’s counties have strong smokefree restaurant ordinances. In 2003, Hawaii County passed a measure to eliminate smoking in restaurants.
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Nevada partially repealed preemptive sections of its smokefree air law and restored local control over smokefree policies in schools.
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Arizona and Hawaii both maintained funding for prevention programs near the CDC-recommended minimums.
Region 10: Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska
The Pacific Northwest region has used a combination of legislation and the ballot box to make progress on tobacco control. In 1997, Alaska was the first state to pass a cigarette tax of $1.00. Alaska has also been at the forefront of both strong local smokefree ordinances and youth access laws. In 1996 and 2002, voters in Oregon passed initiatives increasing its cigarette excise tax. Funding from the first tax increase led to the development of Oregon’s state-of-the-art tobacco prevention program. In 2001, Washington went directly to the voters and passed a ballot initiative raising its tax to $1.42—at that time the highest in the nation. Unfortunately, in 2003 this region saw less success. Oregon’s successful program was drastically cut. While Idaho more than doubled its cigarette tax, it also cut its already under-funded tobacco prevention program.
Region 10 average cigarette tax: $1.07.
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