December 30, 2020 3:25 a.m. 

Cigarette and other tobacco taxes will increase in Oregon on Friday January 1st.

A release from the Oregon Department of Revenue said a series of increases including a new tax on inhalant delivery products, were approved by voters in November.

As a result of Measure 108 consumers will see:

*The cigarette tax will increase by $2 per pack of 20 and $2.50 per pack of 25

*Little cigars, collectively weighing 3 pounds or less per 1,000, must be sold in sealed packages of at least 20. The packs will be taxed as cigarettes and will require an Oregon cigarette tax stamp

*Inhalant delivery systems, such as vaping and e-cigarette products, will be taxed at a rate of 65 percent of the wholesale purchase price

*The cap on the tax on cigars increases from 50 cents to $1.

The release said revenue produced by the tax changes will be used by the Oregon Health Authority to fund health care coverage for low-income families. That will include mental health services and public health programs, including programs addressing tobacco and nicotine-related disease.

More information on the tax changes can be found in the answers to a list of frequently asked questions on the Department of Revenue website: https://www.oregon.gov/dor/FAQ/Pages/default.aspx