California Passes Prop 56 To Increase Cigarette Tax By $2 To Fund Health-Care
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Voters in California passed Proposition 56 and increased the cigarette tax by $2 a pack.
The revenue will go to fund health-care programs, smoking prevention, cancer research and school programs.
The tobacco tax will be levied on e-cigarettes, as well.
The initiative was hard-fought by the tobacco companies who outspent the 'yes' campaign 2-to-1.
Philip Morris and Reynolds Tobacco contributed nearly $70 million to defeat the measure.
