Missouri tobacco amendment proposed

The Committee for a Healthy Future is one step closer to a tobacco proposal that the committee believes "will save lives and improve health care on the November ballot." The proposal is in place to become a state constitutional amendment on the November 2006 ballot.

This proposed amendment would impose a tax equal to four cents per cigarette and 20 percent on other tobacco products. The tax revenue would be used to fund smoking prevention and cessation programs and increase health care access and treatments. The proposal is backed by different groups across Missouri, recent endorsers include AARP Missouri, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association. All over the state, hundreds of volunteers have set up petition drives at various local venues.

The petition needs 150,000 more signatures by May 9, to ensure the proposal ends up on the November ballot.

Despite all the other issues that are to be voted on, committee members don't believe the proposed amendment will be lost in the shuffle. "We are confident that our recognized efforts between three organizations that have rallied together, confident that this issue has merit." said Committee for a Healthy Future representative Anitia Gilpin.

The initiative is a collaboration between the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri.

"We are on track to put this life-saving initiative on the ballot, and everywhere we go, Missourians tell us this is the right solution to Missouri's smoking problem." said Cindy Erickson, Chief Executive Officer of the American Lung Association of Missouri and Committee's spokesperson.

Jim Blain, a physician, is excited about the development of the amendment, "all of the tax revenue, every dime is going to an access initiative, as a physician I am really excited about this. Currently, nationwide, Missouri health initiatives concerning tobacco, ranks behind Puerto Rico."

Across the nation, the four leading states in terms of both production and relative dependence on the crop have been North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia. Kentucky and Virginia being the only two states in the history of cigarette taxation to decrease their taxes.

Promoters of tobacco insist that the leaf has social benefits and economic and industrial significance.

On the other hand, many are concerned about the health hazards of smoking and still others are convinced of its immorality. According to data published by the National Commission on Marijuana and drug abuse, 45.9 percent of males over age 17 and 30.5 percent of females over age 17 are smokers. Chris Dickinson of Nevada said, "It's going to make a lot of people mad. I don't think it will affect cigarette sales because people think they need it. They won't like it, though."

Proponents of the amendment say the proposed amendment, if passed, would generate revenue toward cessation programs and increase the price that Missourians pay for all tobacco products. For more information contact the Community for a Healthy Future at www.healthymissouri.org.