GOING UP IN SMOKE

Alexandria City Council OKs tax on cigarette paper

The cost of rolling smokes, legal or otherwise, will go up soon in
Alexandria.

The City Council has approved a retail tax on cigarette paper at a rate of
$1.50 a pack.

State law specifies that proceeds from the tax go for anti-drug education
and youth programs.

City leaders also hope that nearly doubling the cost of the paper will
discourage some marijuana users.

"That's the subliminal reason for it," City Councilman Chuck Fowler said.

However, retailers and others interviewed Thursday predicted that a new tax
won't make much difference to drug users.

Cashier Debra Roberson expects to continue selling at least three or so
packs a week at Quick Way Exxon at Jackson Street and Bolton Avenue.

"For a smoke, they will purchase," she said.

Customers at the convenience store agreed.

"It's not going to stop nothing, but it might slow it down," said Reginald
Sims of Alexandria.

He saw the new tax as a good idea, but suggested more taxes for cigars also,
because drug smokers use cigar paper, too.

Robbi Trammell of Pineville said she hopes the tax could discourage tobacco
smoking also, because she's lost relatives to lung cancer.

"My daughter complains every time she buys cigarettes about how expensive
they are," Trammel said. "I just hope they will keep going higher."

Alexandria police Chief Daren Coutee conceded that profit margins are so
high that drug dealers won't be deterred by the tax.

"Especially, in general when you can sell a marijuana cigarette for $5," he
said.

The chief estimated that as many as 4,000 packs of cigarette paper might
sell each month in the city now.

"That's very possible," said Jerry Sarpy, assistant manager at Tobacco Shop
on Elliott Street. "There's a lot of people selling them."

If paper sales do suffer, it could lead to increased costs for other
products, Sarpy said.

Trisha Clinton, assistant manager at Tobacco Plus on North Mall Drive, added
that drug users aren't the only ones buying the paper.

"We do have some legit customers who have cigarette machines, because
cigarettes are going so high," she said.

State Rep. Rick Farrar, D-Pineville, wrote the law that enabled the city to
enact the new tax.

Pineville, Rapides Parish and several other cities and parishes named in the
law could do so, also.

The law specifies that 50 cents of the proceeds from the tax go to the
Sheriff's Office for Drug Abuse Resistance Education.

The city can use the remaining $1 to help fund ongoing or new youth
programs.

City officials were unsure Thursday just how long it will take to implement
the new tax.

Fast Facts

. A new tax will add $1.50 to the cost of a pack of cigarette paper sold in
Alexandria.

. Fifty cents from each pack will support the Rapides Parish Sheriff's
Office Drug Abuse Resistance Education program.

. The city can use the remaining $1 from each pack for youth programs.

. The city of Pineville could enact a similar tax as could the Police Jury
for the rural areas of Rapides Parish.