I guess now they're taxing Native Americans for distributing cigarettes which they haven't done previously. I guess it's three dollars extra for a pack of cigarettes. 1.50 for the state and 1.50 for federal.

Thoughts? Good, bad idea?

I personally think it's bullshit. If they are going to tax smokers, then raise taxes for alcoholics or gamblers.

i dont smoke cigs, so i dont particularly care.
but i agree that if they tax smokers, it should apply to alcoholics/gamblers.

Cigarettes are probably more inelastic. But I don't see the big deal if it's a matter of previously having been able to buy cigarettes from Native Americans to bypass other taxes. It's not like there aren't sin taxes applied to alcohol and gambling.

Isn't it supposedly like $6 a pack of newports already, in NY?? lol That's crazy, when I used to smoke cigs... they were like $2.80 a pack now it's like uhm.... $4.25? not sure.

*shrug. Not to side w/ the tax or anything, but cigs =/= alcohol (I don't drink though, so meh). The byproduct of cigarettes is the smoke people blow out (second hand smoke). Let's say I started drinking. Wouldn't my byproduct be piss? Would it be okay if I pissed on you? Sounds like a fair trade, your byproduct imposed on me, for mine imposed on you. General you, btw.