Help Save Lives

Help Save Lives

Every year about 300,000 people die because of smoking and other related tobacco products. Cigarettes are one of the main causes of deaths. Prop 86 is a new bill that “imposes additional $2.60 per pack excise tax on cigarettes and indirectly increases taxes on other tobacco products” (Proposition 86: Tax on Cigarettes- State of California). Prop 86 also “provides funding for various health programs, children’s health coverage, and tobacco-related programs” ( Proposition 86: Tax on Cigarettes- State of California). This year people should be voting yes on Proposition 86 because it will reduce smoking, save lives, and provide funding for health programs.

Proposition 86 will make people save money and spend it more wisely. Every year teens start smoking at an earlier age, Proposition 86 “will keep 700,000 [children] from becoming adult smokers” (Proposition 86: Tax on Cigarettes, State of California). If the tax on cigarettes increases it will be harder for teenagers to purchase them, and it will stop them from smoking at an earlier age. Many adults who buy cigarettes for children will also have a harder time purchasing the cigarettes because they might think that teenagers cannot afford to buy cigarettes. Proposition 86 would not only stop young teenagers from smoking but it will “prevent 300,000 smoking related deaths” (Proposition 86: Tax on Cigarettes, State of California). This Proposition will save teenagers lives. Proposition 86 will not only save teenagers but about 120,000 adults who will stop smoking. Proposition should have been passed a long time ago because it not only stops teenagers and adults from smoking, but it also saves lives.

Proposition 86 tax money will go into a very good cause like health programs and people would save money from health care cost. This measure will:

Provide funding for hospitals for emergency services as well as programs to increase access to health insurance for children, expand nursing education, support various new and existing health and education activities, curb tobacco use and regulate tobacco sales (Secretary of State 61).

This money will help hospitals save lives because they will have the materials necessary. The money will also help by educating people about the effect that cigarettes and tobacco products due. This money will go to children who were second hand smokers and who are addicted to nicotine. Proposition 86 has distributed the money into sections, some of it will go towards the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, and the American Heart Association among others. It will also go to programs that will help people stop smoking. Proposition 86 will benefit everyone in one way or another.

Tobacco companies, drug stores, and smokers disagree with this measure because they believe that Proposition