In an effort to address the growing problem of teenage vaping in Louisiana, state lawmakers recently considered two bills designed to increase taxes on traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes. While one bill successfully passed out of committee, the other faced opposition from conservative legislators.
Rep. Ken Brass proposed raising the tax on vape products from 15 cents to 33 cents per milliliter, citing the alarming statistic that nearly one in three high school students in Louisiana use e-cigarettes. Paige McCrory, an eighth-grade teacher in Rapides Parish, testified that her students, some as young as 13, are already addicted to vaping and often use questionable pods containing unknown substances, including alcohol.
Despite the bill’s intentions to curb teen nicotine use, some conservative lawmakers remained skeptical about the effectiveness of higher taxes in deterring addiction. Rep. Jack Galle’, R-Mandeville, suggested that increasing prices may not adequately address the issue and called for more education about the dangers of using these products.
While Rep. Brass’ bill on vape taxes passed, a similar proposal by Rep. Mandie Landry to increase taxes on traditional cigarettes by 33 cents per pack did not make it out of committee. Landry argued that higher taxes typically lead to reduced smoking rates and improved health outcomes, but her bill failed to gain the necessary support.
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