Groups see spike in smokers trying to quit following tax hike
Minnesota's increased cigarette tax that took effect July 1 is forcing more and more smokers to find ways to kick the habit.
A free stop-smoking program, QuitPlan Services operated by ClearWay Minnesota, says they received 900 calls in the first two weeks of the month, a 256 percent increase compared to the same time period last year, WCCO reports.
QuitPlan's website also saw a jump in traffic, up 289 percent from 2012.
The Pioneer Press says Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota had 186 people enrolled in their quit-smoking program during the first two weeks of July compared to only 69 people enrolled in that time span in 2012.
The tax hike, now the sixth-highest in the country, brings the average price of a pack of cigarettes to about $7.50 and is projected generate more than $400 million in state revenue over the next two years.
