JOPLIN, Mo. — The American Cancer Society is preparing to launch a statewide petition drive with a goal of placing a state tobacco tax increase on the November 2012 ballot in Missouri.

Smokers and the owner of several tobacco shops in the area say they are opposed to the measure.

At 17 cents a pack, Missouri’s tax on cigarettes is the lowest in the country. The tax is 79 cents per pack in Kansas and $1.03 per pack in Oklahoma.

The American Cancer Society proposes increasing the Missouri cigarette tax by 80 cents, to 97 cents a pack, and to increase the tax on other tobacco products by 34 percent, said Misty Snodgrass, government relations director for the American Cancer Society in Missouri.

The proposal calls for 50 percent of the revenue to go to public schools; 30 percent to go to higher education and job training programs; and 20 percent to go toward smoking cessation programs.

Snodgrass said a conservative estimate is that the tax would raise $300,000 annually.

She said the goal of the effort is not to raise revenue but to provide smokers with an incentive to quit.

“That is absolutely the goal,” Snodgrass said. “It also helps reduce the high youth smoking rate.”

She said the organization wants to give young people an incentive not to start smoking.

The group has filed its petition with Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan and is waiting for approval of the petition. Snodgrass said the drive then will attempt to gather 100,000 signatures of Missouri registered voters. The American Cancer Society and its affiliates will have until May 6 to accomplish that.

SUPPORT

One of the groups that will assist the American Cancer Society is the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said Peter Fisher, the organization’s vice president for state issues.

“We view it as a win-win,” Fisher said of the effort. He said it would raise money for education and also would reduce tobacco use.

“We hope the voters of Missouri approve this lifesaving measure,” Fisher said.

Similar measures were defeated in 2002 and 2006 by Missouri voters. Snodgrass said the defeats were narrow ones, and she’s confident that the American Cancer Society can win. She said the society is taking the lead on this effort; it has been in a supporting role in the past.

Literature from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids cites “Promoting Healthy Lifestyles,” a 2007 report issued by the President’s Cancer Panel recommending increased tobacco taxes. It says the taxes “have proven highly effective in reducing tobacco use by promoting cessation among current users, discouraging relapse among former users, preventing initiation among potential users and reducing consumption among those who continue to use tobacco.”

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids estimates that the annual health care costs in Missouri directly caused by smoking total $2.13 billion. The portion covered by the state Medicaid program is $532 million. Estimated annual productivity losses caused by smoking in Missouri total $2.51 billion, the group says.

OPPOSITION

Several smokers who were asked about the issue last week said they are firmly against raising the tax.

“I think it’s ridiculous,” said Jason Carl, of Joplin. “We’re killing ourselves. They’re just trying to make money off of us. Us poor people like to smoke.”

Stan Bowman, of Diamond, said it seems that everyone else’s rights supersede those of smokers. He said it’s unfair that taxes continue to target him and his fellow smokers.

“They’ve taxed everybody to death on liquor and cigarettes,” Bowman said.

Donna Bryant, of Joplin, said she would vote against the tax increase, but that if it’s approved, she may well cut back on her cigarette usage.

Kenneth Dina, of Joplin, is 53 and has been smoking since age 14. He said he pays $2 for each pack of cigarettes. He said that if the tax were to increase, he would continue to find an inexpensive brand to buy. He said he agrees with the American Cancer Society’s goal of dissuading young people from smoking.

“I’d like to see a lot of kids not pick up a cigarette — that and alcohol,” Dina said. He said they ruin lives.

Carl, though, said he doesn’t think higher taxes would affect youth smoking.

“That isn’t going to stop kids from smoking,” he said. “They get that from their parents.”

He said he started smoking because his parents smoked.

OWNER OF STORES

Mark Gandhi owns three Discount Smokes and Liquor stores in Joplin, a store in Webb City and a store in Pineville. He said he understands that tobacco is an addiction, but he said it is a want and not a necessity. He said a tax increase would hurt his business and others.

“It would make an impact on the small-scale businesses,” Gandhi said. “More stores will close.”

He also said it’s wrong to raise taxes on cigarettes, when alcohol, soft drinks and junk food also are bad for people’s health.

“It’s very inappropriate to point fingers at a smoker,” he said. “It’s wrong to put the burden on smokers alone.”

Gandhi said he may reconsider his position if the economy improves.

“If there is a boost in the economy, where everybody’s making decent wages, I see it would be feasible,” he said.

Tight margins

A 2006 ballot measure, seeking a tax increase of 4 cents per cigarette and 20 percent on other tobacco products, was defeated, with 51 percent of the voters opposed to 49 percent in favor.

A 2002 ballot measure, seeking an increase of 2.75 cents per cigarette and 20 percent on other tobacco products, also was defeated by a margin of 51 percent to 49 percent.