By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
In an effort to curb tobacco use and boost funding for public health programs, Washington lawmakers are advancing a proposal to increase the state cigarette tax by $2 per pack, raising the rate to $5 for a pack of 20 cigarettes. Democratic lawmakers attempted a similar levy last year but fell short. This legislative session, they have reintroduced the measure with newly filed bills and renewed determination.
The proposal has drawn attention from public health advocates and opponents alike, with debate centering on health outcomes, tax burdens and funding priorities. Supporters say the increase will drive down smoking rates and provide critical resources for prevention and cessation programs. Critics have not yet mobilized publicly, but tobacco industry resistance is expected to be strong.
Heidi Low, Western Region Advocacy Director for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said opposition from the tobacco industry remains the largest obstacle to passing the proposed tax increase.
“The tobacco industry fights hard against any policy proposal that will diminish their customer base, and a cigarette tax is no exception. They attempt to argue that increasing the price of cigarettes is just another burden on consumers facing inflation and increasing prices for everyday needs,” said Low. “What they fail to disclose is that most smokers want to quit, and increasing the price is a significant incentive. Not only will this save the smoker money to feed their addiction, but also in increased costs associated with health care.”
Low said research consistently shows that price increases reduce smoking rates and lead to long‑term public health benefits. She pointed to data suggesting the proposed $2 increase would have a meaningful impact on smoking behavior in Washington.
“Time and time again, we have data to show that increasing taxes on tobacco products directly results in lower usage rates, especially in youth, and higher quit rates across the board,” Low said. “Research shows that a $2 increase will prevent 5,700 from smoking and prompt 20,900 adults to quit smoking in the first year!”
Low explained how the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids arrives at its estimates. The organization partners with economists and research institutions to analyze price elasticity and smoking trends across age groups.
“The kids prevented from smoking are based on elasticity estimates that a 10 percent increase in price will reduce youth smoking by 6 to 7 percent,” Low said. “We apply that to an estimate of the number of kids who would become adult smokers in Washington given the current smoking levels and populations. The number of premature deaths prevented is based on how many adult smokers quit smoking due to the tax increase and estimates of the portion of people who are expected to die due to smoking‑related diseases who would no longer die because they quit.”
As lawmakers and advocates discuss how to maximize the health benefits of new revenue, Low said part of the proposal includes directing funds to state tobacco prevention and cessation programs. That money could help expand Department of Health tobacco initiatives that match best practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While cigarettes are a longstanding concern, flavored e-cigarettes and newer nicotine products are also cited as threats to youth health. Low said the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids works with public health, education and community organizations to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products.
Low said the tobacco industry adapts quickly, creating new products with high levels of nicotine to maintain addiction among existing users and attract new customers, particularly youth.
“As use of products fade, like combustible cigarettes and e-cigarettes, the industry keeps introducing new products to keep customers addicted and attract new customers. This is why they fight flavors, because they know that without candy and fruit flavored products, fewer kids will try them. If we keep kids from using tobacco products before they reach adulthood, the likelihood they start using as adults is very low,” said Low.
Low detailed the industry’s marketing strategies, which are designed to appeal to young people and vulnerable communities.
“The industry spends 25 million dollars per day to market, and their primary targets are kids, Black, Latino, LGBTQ plus and other communities,” Low said. She added that ending the sale of candy and fruit flavored tobacco products would play a key role in reducing youth tobacco use.
“Nearly all youth using tobacco are using flavored tobacco. It is critical that we end the sale of candy and fruit flavored tobacco products whose sole reason for existence is to attract kids to products,” said Low. “This argument of harm reduction with products like vapes and pouches needing to be flavored like candy is absurd. No cigarette smoker needs berry blast or watermelon flavored vapes or pouches to stop smoking cigarettes.”
Despite the evidence supporting tobacco tax increases, Washington has lagged behind other states in prevention funding. Low said the current level of investment falls well short of recommended amounts.
“Washington’s current 3.8 million dollars in funding for tobacco prevention measures ranks an abysmal 42nd in our country, falling far short of the recommended 63.6 million dollars by the CDC,” said Low. “Surely the state can do more to protect Washingtonians from a lifetime of nicotine addiction, especially when you see the tremendous return on investment prevention dollars serve in our state budget.”
Low said that it has been more than a decade since the last cigarette tax increase in Washington.
“It’s time for change. It’s been 16 years since the last cigarette tax increase in Washington,” Low added.
