700% tax? WTF!!

[Joos]

It's official.I can no longer afford to smoke cigarettes.I'm freakin pissed!I love smoking.I smoke bout a pack and a half a day.In MA that comes out to$13! $364 a month.WTF!!the cheapest nastiest smokes I can find are $6.40.I'm so pissed because I don't want to quit,but my only alternative is to cut down on my beer intake.That will never happen so I guess I'll be a pink lung from now on.Sorry about the rant,but I'm sure there are some other middle class massholes that will agree with me.

 

[Tonedef131]

Why don't you just cut back on both a little bit? Like have one less beer a day and try to keep it under a pack per day? I too love to smoke but only buy a pack every few weeks, this is better for the lungs and the wallet.

 

[Evets]

Might as well just quit. You love it now but you'll hate it later. Trust me. I was a 2.5-3 pack a day smoker when I quit twelve years ago. I'm pretty sure I'd be dead by now had I not quit.

 

[EdWort]

The politicians of Taxachussets in their infinite wisdom think that they will raise all sorts of revenue from this tax increase. I give it less than 6 months before they see how it has worked in reverse, actually decreasing revenue as people quit smoking or buy them over the state line.

 

[chumprock]

I stopped when it hit $2 a pack...

Of course, I started when it was 50 cents at the bowling alley machine...

 

[jgln]

Grow your own if you have the room. Better than nothing if you don't want to quit. I am not and never was a smoker but I have grown tobacco and I got a slight mellowing effect when I did. Makes me understand why people who smoke get hooked.

 

[Joos]

Ya know the weird (and cliche) thing is that I'm not addicted to nicotine.I've quit before for different reasons.The latest one being my wife got pregnant and I quit so it would be easier on her.No problems.I don't "fiend" for one.I just really enjoy smoking when I can.Screw it I guess I just have to stop and forget about how much I love them.Maybe I'll start smoking cigars on special occasions like the weekend

 

[c.n.budz]

Ya know the weird (and cliche) thing is that I'm not addicted to nicotine.

You smoke a pack and a half a day but you're not addicted to nicotine?? I think you need to reevaluate your definition of "addicted"

 

[Bernie Brewer]

It's easy to say to just quit. But Ed's right- the Taxperts think it's ok to tax smokers because, well, smoking is evil and let them pay. Besides, it doesn't hurt ME any because I don't smoke, right?

Wrong. When they realize that it isn't going to work, the alcohol tax will be next to go through the roof. Then we all will be whining.

 

[wildwest450]

There's always a gun, a faster and cheaper way to kill yourself.

 

[BeezBrew]

It's easy to say to just quit. But Ed's right- the Taxperts think it's ok to tax smokers because, well, smoking is evil and let them pay. Besides, it doesn't hurt ME any because I don't smoke, right?

Wrong. When they realize that it isn't going to work, the alcohol tax will be next to go through the roof. Then we all will be whining.

Too late: Fight the Massachusetts Beer Tax Increase! - BeerAdvocate

 

[kaiser423]

Well, I'm next to a reservation, so everyone around here gets their cigarettes without the taxes out there.....now I think that some might have online presences....

Not sure if they clamped down on that or not, but it was a pretty brisk business a few years back.

 

[the_bird]

I only smoke cigars, but it's amazing how much they've jacked up ciggie taxes. It wasn't too many years ago that I was selling cheap-ass smoked for $1.39 a pack.

You know what I don't understand, though?

MURANO FILTERED CIGARS 3-FER NATURAL FILTERED MILD

Looks like a cigarette. Filtered like a cigarette. Not taxed like a cigarette! $50 for three cartons - that's like $1.50 a pack!

I haven't tried these, have no idea if they're any good, but they get taxed as cigars which makes them about 20% the price. I've ordered a ton of stuff from Thompson, they're a great company.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I stopped when it hit $2 a pack...

Of course, I started when it was 50 cents at the bowling alley machine...

I remember buying a CARTON of cigs for $1.36...yes...1 dollar and 36 pesos...at the Commisary in 1975!!

I quit smoking 19 years ago...

Want to REALLY screw up the politicians and producers??? EVERYONE QUIT SMOKING FOR 2 WEEKS...they'll wonder where all their precious revenue went when it doesn't come in...

 

[homebeerbrewer]

I'm a fellow smoker and Masshole, and I get my cigs for about $37 a carton from a friend in FL. With shipping, I still pay about half of what they cost here.

 

[McKBrew]

Either you have to quit, pay the price, or replace the burning desire to have a long, round object in your mouth with another round, long object in your mouth. I'd personally go with option #1

 

[kappclark]

The more you tax something, the less you get of it.

Gee - I thought the tobacco settlement was supposed to help educate folks to get off cigarettes, but the states complain about lost tax revenue when folks cross the border to buy smokes etc..

VT is no better when it comes to sin taxes...except weed - they can't tax that, but I hear it is quite a cash crop here !

 

[SnickASaurusRex]

I had to quit because I have terrible allergies. I loved it, but the sinus headaches, allergic attacks and constant stuffiness just drove me nuts. The funny thing is I had smoked for about six years, then quit. I jumped on that wagon... I picked it up about two years latter and that is when the allergies problems started, but not before when I had smoked a lot more.

I just couldn't do it any more, so I tried different spits. They all made me sick or it was just too gross to mess with. Then my MJ dealer got me on to snus (camel at first then I found better stuff). I have been using that ever since. Sometimes I buy a box of the nicotine lozenges just to keep around.

 

[Ryno]

Try taking Chantix. After a couples of weeks you'll get sick of smoking and you'll do fine. Worked good for me! You just have to get used to ultra real and vivid dreams for a while at the beginning. Make sure you take it for the full 3 months even though you think you got it licked. That appears to be the biggest mistake when taking it. Good luck.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

It's official.I can no longer afford to smoke cigarettes.I'm freakin pissed!I love smoking.I smoke bout a pack and a half a day.In MA that comes out to$13! $364 a month.WTF!!the cheapest nastiest smokes I can find are $6.40.I'm so pissed because I don't want to quit,but my only alternative is to cut down on my beer intake.That will never happen so I guess I'll be a pink lung from now on.Sorry about the rant,but I'm sure there are some other middle class massholes that will agree with me.

Man I know EXACTLY How you feel! I ended up quitting (for a totally different reason) but I still love the smell of tobacco smoke. Cigarettes, cigars, pipe blends, but especially the smell of all the tobacco in the walk-in humidor at the tobacconist shop. I still jones for a smoke (it's been 4 yrs now) but not bad. The only thing I can say is either quit, or grow your own. You may (or may not) find this useful: Tobacco Plant Seeds From Around the World Either way, good luck to you. Regards, GF.

 

[Zen_Brew]

You gotta go RYO (roll your own). That used to be real cheap coming in somewhere around a dollar a pack prior to Apr. When the new taxes came in they jacked loose tobacco the highest. The tax on loose tobacco went from about $1 a lb to $25 a lb. Yeah that isn't a typo. Instantly more than doubled the price of a lb of tobacco. I was one of the people who stocked up buying 8 lbs of tobacco before the new tax hit. Even with the new tax it will still only be about $3 a pack to RYO. Takes maybe 5 or 6 minutes with the $40 hand cranker to roll a pack of ciggs in the morning, and with all the tobacco selections out there you can taylor the blend till you get exactly what you want.

 

[Aleforge]

I don't smoke, maybe a cigar now and then but if I did I would defaintly rather roll my own and use pure leaves then the other crap full of additives. Many which are the real reason they are so bad for you. I don't know how hard it is to grow it, but I would also give that an attempt also. :cross:

 

[the_bird]

Wrong. When they realize that it isn't going to work, the alcohol tax will be next to go through the roof. Then we all will be whining.

They'll increase the taxes on alcohol over Ted Kennedy's dead body!!












.... oh, ****...

 

[BaldAssCat]

The politicians of Taxachussets in their infinite wisdom think that they will raise all sorts of revenue from this tax increase. I give it less than 6 months before they see how it has worked in reverse, actually decreasing revenue as people quit smoking or buy them over the state line.

You underestimate our fearless leaders. Their knowledge of what’s best for us is so great that small things like facts will not deter them. And small people like you who point out those small facts are beneath their notice.

New Hampshire on the other hand has noticed that the great leaders of Mass are driving us to head up there for our shopping needs and are grateful.

ETA: Roll your own is the way to go. I used to do it just because it was a better smoke but now if you take the trip to NH you can save a lot of money. I’m down to cigars and pipes now myself.

 

[remilard]

The more you tax something, the less you get of it.

Yep, makes you wonder why we get almost all of our tax revenue by taxing work, saving and investing.

 

[jgln]

I don't smoke, maybe a cigar now and then but if I did I would defaintly rather roll my own and use pure leaves then the other crap full of additives. Many which are the real reason they are so bad for you. I don't know how hard it is to grow it, but I would also give that an attempt also. :cross:

The hardest part I find in growing it is the seeds are VERY small (like black pepper) and to get the small plants thinned so they can mature properly is a pain but once done they grow well at least in this area. Plants I have grown sometimes get as tall as me with leaves as long as my arm. If you let them turn to seed you will in a year have enough seed to plant an acre from just a few plants. Biggest pest problem is some small bug (aphids?) and the leaves are sticky so if you want them to be real clean you may need to wash them before drying. After drying you can easily get 1-2 oz+ from each plant.
Like I said, I have dried and smoked some for fun and it is mellowing to me but I grow it for fun.
I am not trying to promote your (OP) habit just trying to suggest a way to save you money. May want to check local laws on growing it too.

 

[Saccharomyces]

Biggest pest problem is some small bug (aphids?)

If they are aphids, mix up a few ounces of Murphy's Oil Soap and a gallon of warm water in a garden sprayer and go to town. Suffocates the lil' buggers. I do this for my Crape Myrtles. You can use oil spray from the nursery too, but Murphy's is a lot cheaper.

 

[TXCrash]

Makes me glad I quit almost a year ago. Had been thinking about doing the same - was working with a non smoker (surveying storm drain system) and looking towards a year at a mostly smoke free college (social not mandate).

I definitely do still sometimes find a smoker and sit in the smoke.. gotta love that second hand smoke sometimes. Have to remind myself, though, that I can NOT smoke another cigarette - if I do, I'll start back up. I LOVE smoking but it's bad for ya and expensive (and I finally F%*#in quit).

 

[EdWort]

I'm a fellow smoker and Masshole, and I get my cigs for about $37 a carton from a friend in FL. With shipping, I still pay about half of what they cost here.

My point exactly. Florida is benefiting from Massholes taxes.

 

[BADS197]

They are taxing it so you do quit.

Instead of regulating healthcare and making it affordable, they are enableing the healthcare system to keep the cost high.

They will do the same to alcohol and firearms eventually if they arent already headed that way.

Tax you out of doing something... it's the American way.