The Board for the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) wants the Legislature to increase taxes on tobacco products and expand the definition of tobacco products to include developing products not yet available in Oklahoma.
The Board unanimously passed three resolutions during a September 17 meeting: two involving tobacco and the other encouraging the state to do more about food access.
The Board points to past tax increases on tobacco products as a method to decrease the number of smokers in Oklahoma. At the same time, TSET wants to make sure as tobacco companies evolve their nicotine products they are covered by Oklahoma’s taxes and regulations.
TSET executive director Julie Bisbee says by increasing cigarette prices, lives and money will be saved.
“It is proven time and again higher cigarette prices encourage more people to quit smoking and prevent youth from ever starting,” Bisbee said. “Raising the state tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products will improve our state’s health now and give young Oklahomans a greater opportunity for a healthy future.”
