State legislators are introducing efforts to curb Indiana’s smoking rate – currently one of the highest in the nation.  A few bills have been proposed this session, but one from Cindy Kirchofer would do several things.  It would raise the tobacco tax by $1.50.  It appropriates millions of dollars in state money to tobacco prevention and cessation.  But she says it would also change the smoking age in the state to 21, to curb youth smoking.

Similar efforts to raise Indiana’s tobacco tax have failed in past sessions.

According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Indiana’s cigarette tax, at $0.995 a pack, ranks 37th.  The top state on the list is New York, which charges $4.35 per pack.