Tax On Roll-Your-Own Tobacco Passes Senate

Cigarettes from roll-your-own tobacco shops could soon be taxed at a higher rate under a bill approved yesterday by the state Senate. Roll-your-own shops sell raw tobacco, which is taxed at a lower rate, and then let customers make their cigarettes using a machine in the store.

Republican Jack Johnson held up a pack of Marlboros on the Senate floor, and told members there’s little difference compared to roll-your-own cigarettes, before passing out some of both to colleagues. He says the bill aims to level the field for cigarette sellers competing against roll-your-own.

The proposal has come under fire from workers in roll-your-own shops, who say the tax would put them out of business. Johnson told colleagues the measure didn’t leave anyone happy, but it passed the Senate 26 to 5, with just a handful of Democrats opposing. Meanwhile the House version has sat bottled up in committee for weeks.