According to the news,cigarette smuggling across the border is
"exploding." This was entirely predictable - we had only to look at
the Canadian experiment with high tobacco taxes a few years ago.
Eventually the tax was rescinded because smuggling "exploded."

Speaking as one who enjoys smoking and who is usually a law-abiding
citizen, I can tell you that I would buy smuggled cigarettes if I
could find a source. It is unconscionable and, in my opinion, immoral
to tax one minority group of citizens (smokers) at a rate so much
higher than the general populace.

Taxes should be shared more or less equally among all the people. It
is important to remember that cigarettes and cigarette manufacturers
don't pay taxes; people do.

Daniel M. Short
La Habra