A significant drop in sales, as expected, would force many businesses to close down and put a lot of people in our community out of work. HBR's Board of Directors strongly believes the government should strengthen and enforce policies to keep teenagers from smoking.
Teenage smoking is a serious problem that needs to be addressed immediately.
However, a massive tax increase and adding to an already bloated bureaucracy, are not the best way to accomplish this. Increasing taxes on cigarettes will generate significant price differences between Mexico and the United States. This virtually guarantees the creation of a massive black market controlled by organized crime, targeting 'children and families first' - the same group this misguided initiative seeks to protect. Without a doubt, a new black market trafficking tobacco from Mexico, would target the Hispanic community in the southwestern states, and our youth in particular. If supporters of this initiative want to increase spending for children's programs, they should be straight with California voters and seek direct funding for these programs.