New Law Could Raise Cigarette Pack Price to $17 in Seattle

Washington— A bill that is being talked about in the Washington state legislature is making a lot of people angry, including lawmakers, public health advocates, and small business owners. The purpose of House Bill 2382 is to increase the state's cigarette tax by $2 per pack. This could raise the average price of a pack in Seattle to as much as $17. This would make Washington one of the most expensive states for smokers. This could stop people from smoking and bring in more money for public programs.

The base rate in Washington is one of the highest in the country right now. Each pack of cigarettes costs $3 in taxes. A standard pack in Seattle already costs about $15 when you include local and federal taxes and the store's markup. If HB 2382 passes, the total state tax would go up to $5 per pack. This would add about $2 to the price at the store. If you smoke a pack a day, this could mean an extra $730 a year. House Bill 2382 would impose an additional $2 tax per pack of cigarettes. Combined with the existing $3 state tax, this would mean more than $5 in taxes alone on every pack sold in Washington.

The person who sponsored the bill says that the tax hike has two goals. The sponsor said in a recent press release, "This isn't just about making money; it's about saving lives." The law's goal is to lower smoking rates, especially among young people and people with low incomes, by making cigarettes less affordable. Public health experts agree with this view. They point to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that shows that a 10% price increase can lead to a 4-7% drop in overall tobacco use. Around 12% of adults in Washington smoke. This could stop thousands of smoking-related diseases, such as lung cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which cost the state billions of dollars in healthcare costs every year.

The Washington State Department of Revenue's first estimates say that the tax will bring in around $200 million each year. The money would go to campaigns to stop smoking, programs to keep kids from smoking, and health programs in general, like mental health services and treatment for addiction. Supporters point to states like California and New York, where similar tax increases have paid for bigger Medicaid and school health programs. These programs have led to a clear drop in the number of teens who smoke.

But a lot of people are against it, especially small business owners and convenience store owners who make a lot of money selling tobacco. The Washington Retail Association and other groups say that the tax could cause people to go to Idaho or Oregon, where cigarettes are cheaper (about $8 to $10 per pack). A group representative said, "This isn't fair to local businesses that are already having a hard time with inflation and getting back on their feet after the pandemic." "We could see stores closing and people losing their jobs in places that need them the most."

Some people also say that the tax hurts low-income smokers more than others. These smokers might turn to black-market products or cheaper, unregulated ones, which could make their health problems worse instead of better. Some lawmakers have suggested making changes to exempt certain groups or raise the price slowly, but anti-tobacco groups are against these ideas because they want the change to happen quickly.

anti-tobacco groups are against these ideas because they want the change to happen quickly. There will be public input sessions in the next few weeks while HB 2382 is being heard in committee. The tax could start as soon as July 2026, which is when the state's fiscal year starts, if it gets the go-ahead. For now, the argument shows how hard it is to find a balance between public health goals and the economy, especially since Seattle has a high cost of living. People who smoke in the Emerald City may soon have to choose between quitting or paying the price.