A bipartisan Senate Bill 1840 "Protecting Florida's Health Act," by State Senator Deutch (D) and Senator Altman (R), was passed by the Legislature. It imposes a $1.00
surcharge per pack of cigarettes and an increased surcharge on all tobacco
products.
The purposes of this Bill include:
1) generating funds for Medicaid reimbursement rates
2) preventing youth from starting to smoke
3) Florida would no longer have the lowest tobacco tax in the U.S.

More historic anti-smoking legislation hopes to save the lives of thousands of
smokers and hopes to prevent countless new young people from ever starting.
President Barack Obama admits to having a nicotine habit that he is trying to
end, with difficulty.

Finally the FDA will have authority to regulate the ingredients of tobacco
products, including the addition of warning labels to cover 50% of the front
and back of cigarette packs. In addition, this bill give the federal government the authority to regulate the sale and marketing of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
The use of words, such as: "light," "low tar," and "mild," will be banned from
cigarette packs and cartons and advertising.

Philip Morris USA is the only cigarette manugacturing company, so far, that
has supported fair tobacco regulations.

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