West Virginia’s current excise tax on tobacco is one of the lowest in the nation. All but one border state has higher tobacco taxes than West Virginia.

The state has one of the highest rates of smoking in the country and increasing the tobacco tax has been shown to reduce its use.

These reasons are why the Charleston Regional Chamber of Commerce is supporting an increase in the tobacco tax by the West Virginia Legislature.

Today at 4 p.m., the House of Delegates Health and Human Resources Committee is likely to vote on legislation that would increase the tax on tobacco.

We all pay higher insurance premiums to cover the costs of tobacco-related illnesses. We pay higher taxes to fund the health care of the Medicaid and the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) population who use tobacco; and we pay through lost productivity from workers who are ill, disabled or who die due to tobacco use.

Everyone in West Virginia pays when our state’s citizens smoke. Cigarette smoking and other tobacco use imposes a mounting public health and financial burden on our state and its businesses.

Your Charleston Chamber supports increasing the tobacco tax and encourages you to contact members of the House Health and Human Resource Committee and voice your support for the legislation.

Click HERE for the contact information of committee members.