No cigarette tax increase this year, flavored vape ban fails in legislature in Washington state

A coalition's push to impose a statewide ban on all flavored tobacco products and raise the cigarette tax by $2 per pack failed in Washington state this year. Both the original bill and a revised version did not advance in the legislature, prompting the coalition to criticize lawmakers for yielding to Big Tobacco interests. The current tax on cigarettes stands at $3. 025 per pack, with a federal tax of $1. 01, contributing to an average retail price of $11 per pack.

Altria, the maker of Marlboro cigarettes, has raised its list price by 86 cents per pack since January 2024, despite a decrease in overall cigarette consumption. The focus on vaping is due to rising youth usage, with California implementing a ban on flavored disposable vapes and menthol cigarettes. In Washington, flavored disposable vapes are widely available, with Elf Bar leading sales after JUUL's market decline. The FDA's restrictions on flavored vape products have allowed unregulated disposable vapes to thrive, particularly among youth. Altria estimates that 60% of the vape market consists of non-FDA-authorized flavored disposable products.