Maryland Smokeless Tobacco Tax up 95%

[vapingrealtor]

Hi Everyone. I was not sure if anyone was aware of this issue.
I wanted you all to know about this current legislation.
Please visit the link below, it contains all the information for every
elected legislator for the State of Maryland.
Please assist us with getting the word out.
Thanks!

http://www.casaa.org/CTA/article.asp?articleID=236&l=a&p=

Maryland Call to Action
Saturday, March 03, 2012

Maryland Tobacco Tax Initiative

Link to SB631
Link to HB1153

These bills would:
Cause smokeless tobacco products to be taxed at 5-6 times the current tax (the Senate bill would increase tax to 70%, the House bill would tax it at 95%.)

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Companion bills have been introduced to both the Senate (SB631) and the House of Representatives (HB1153). The Senate bill has been referred to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, and the House bill to the House Ways and Means Committee and House Health and Government Operations Committee. The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee will hold a public hearing on SB631 on Wednesday, March 7th at 1:00pm; the House Ways and Means Committee will hold a public hearing on HB1153 on Friday, March 9th at 1:00pm. Public testimony will be allowed from attendees wishing to speak. We strongly encourage local tobacco harm reduction advocates to attend these meetings. If you would like assistance with what to say, please contact us atboard@casaa.org.

[SnusoMatic]

if they don't raise the tax on smokeless more people might quit smoking and you know we can't let that happen.

[vapingrealtor]

if they don't raise the tax on smokeless more people might quit smoking and you know we can't let that happen.

It is our goal to get and keep in the marketplace every type of smoking alternative available to the public. We would love Snus users support in these legislation matters.
So SnusoMatic, we are trying very hard not to let this happen. Tell your friends to write or call and make a large effort to protest this action.

[lxskllr]

Welcome to SnusOn, and thanks for the heads up. I'll see what I can do, but I think fighting it is hopeless. Tobacco is easy money with few friends. These jokers are only concerned about their employment, and not serving the people.

[vapingrealtor]

Welcome to SnusOn, and thanks for the heads up. I'll see what I can do, but I think fighting it is hopeless. Tobacco is easy money with few friends. These jokers are only concerned about their employment, and not serving the people.

All I can say is that if you can move this whole forum to act it will change...we did the same thing in Hawaii. Hawaii wanted to tax e-cigarettes from everything to the wall chargers at a 70% tax increase. We got everyone we could to write and call Hawaii legislators and the bill went out the window. This forum can be a mighty force. Hawaii went down in flames last month. Let's light Maryland a fire too!

[GoVegan]

Thanks for letting us know. I don't live in Maryland but this will hurt all of us if it passes. I will definetely fire off an email to the addresses listed on your website. We might as well die with our boots on.

[whalen]

Get a freekin rope!

[sirloot]

there should be laws that limit taxes to no more than 10%

[lxskllr]

there should be laws that limit taxes to no more than 10%

There shouldn't be special taxes period. I'm ok with a tri tax system. No taxes for essentials(food, shelter, clothing), small taxes for quasi essentials(take out food, very nice clothes(fur, leather...), motel rooms), and a SMALL(no more than double the quasi essential tax) premium tax on luxuries(alcohol, tobacco, amusements).

[Snus Boost]

If you live in Maryland you can't even get snus delivered anymore and since that started I have noticed there is hardly anyone from MD here anymore.

[vapingrealtor]

Generally what happens is when one state increases taxes on a certain products, other states follow suit. In Virginia we had an attempt in the current legislation to raise the cigarette tax, that one didn't even make the house floor before it was shelved. If Maryland succeeds with this HUGE tax increase, you can be assured DE, PA and WV and maybe VA will try and follow suit. It is a domino effect. If you are a user of smokeless tobacco products, even if you do not live in MD, please consider visiting the links and sending a letter to the Maryland legislature. Smokeless tobacco is a vital alternative to smoking cigarettes.