Kelly M. Socia: Approve higher cigarette tax and legalize marijuana – UnionLeader.com
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Updated: February 2, 2026 @ 6:38 am
Kelly M. Socia
Kelly M. Socia
Having moved here from Vermont some nine years ago, I can’t say I have the same affinity for the state motto, “Live Free or Die” that a native may have. Look at the past history of New Hampshire regarding driving motor vehicles, where there is no need to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle and sans wearing a seatbelt while in a car. No issues there, when your thrown free from your vehicle, that boulder or tree on the side of the road will break your fall and may just be the last thing that goes through your mind.
Add to this that now you likely won’t need to inspect your 4,000-pound projectile going down the road at 60 mph, and that the Legislature is looking at a bill that would allow concealed carry on campus; a more appropriate motto might be, “Live Free and Die”.
Today I am prompted to write this editorial by the article in Jan. 13 front page story, “Cigarette tax hike proposal sparks debate”.
The cigarette tax was last increased to the present $1.78 per pack in 2008, (about the same time as the minimum wage was increased). The price of a pack of cigarettes in New Hampshire in 2008 was about $4 with a tax of $1.78, (44.5%). From July 2007 to July of 2009 the cigarette tax increased 65% by $0.70 to the present rate.
If New Hampshire needs to play catch-up by increasing the tax by $1.02, (a 57% increase from $1.78), that’s a bargain compared to the percentage of tax paid in 2009. Today the average price is $9.50 for a pack. A tax of $2.80 is less then 30%. If you look at a retailer needing to recoup the tax, you’re talking of about a $1 increase or little more than 10%, while since 2009 cigarettes have more than doubled in price. Plus, this reasonable increase would bring in an estimated $82 million in revenue.
So here is where New Hampshire Gov. Ayotte gets to add double the “Live Free and Die’ motto. A portion of this revenue would allow bill HB 1596 to fund $18 million annually to restore cuts in the University System of New Hampshire. But instead of supporting collecting revenue from consumption of a product that has proven links to cancer, Ayotte would rather increase health care premiums for moderate income families which is reported to raise only $12 million. Basically, keep cancer sticks cheap, (God forbid we label anything as a tax) but let’s increase health care costs for families.
I find it laughable for convenience store lobbies to talk about the tax targeting the poor and how it will stop people from coming to the state to buy cheap cigs. Looking at the present price of a pack of cigarettes in the other New England states, surrounding states will still be $1.50 to $2 more. Since we will still have the cheapest liquor around, I imagine out of staters can stock up on their cigs at the same time.
If we are so concerned about people taking their cig business to other states, maybe we should stop being the hole in the cannabis business by legalizing cannabis sales and taxing it at 20% like other states to stop the good people of New Hampshire from sending their money out of state.
Now here is a novel idea to ponder regarding another front-page story Jan. 13. Let’s approve the increase in cigarette tax which will bring in $82 million. Then take just 1% of the first-year revenue to put towards the $770,000 funding needed to cover the Derry Rail Trail so people don’t have to feel like they’re in a live game of Frogger to cross Folsom Road.
Kelly M Socia is the proprietor of the New Hampshire Party Bus and lives in Goffstown.
Kelly M. Socia
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