Group lobbies at Indiana Statehouse for $2 cigarette tax

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The cost of cigarettes in Indiana could be on the rise.

A local group is encouraging lawmakers to increase the tax by $2 per pack. The current tax is $1 per pack.

Indiana has been ranked as one of the most unhealthy states in the country. In fact, the Hoosier state has been ranked 38th in overall health. When it comes to smoking, Indiana ranks as being ninth-highest, according to the latest America’s Health Ranking Report. 

At the Statehouse on Tuesday, dozens of students, business leaders and advocates led by Raise It for Health gathered to support a cigarette tax increase. They hoped to get the attention of lawmakers. The group wants to raise the tax to encourage people to stop smoking and to offset the nearly $3 billion Raise It for Health estimates is spent on tobacco-related health care costs.

According to Raise It for Health, nearly 11,000 Hoosiers die each each year from smoking. 

“If you raise the price, less babies die. Less adults die. Fewer kids start smoking. We have less lung cancer, less heart disease, less strokes, better health. It’s that simple,” said Community Health Network CEO Bryan Mills. 

Indiana also has been ranked 40th for obesity and 37th for diabetes.