Montana voters support cigarette tax increase to prevent addiction and save lives

HELENA, Mont . , June 22 , 2026 - Ci gar ette use continues to tak e a hea vy toll in Mon tana, claim ing about 1,600 lives each year .

Against this backdrop, a new statewide poll finds broad supp ort across political pa rtie s for proven p olicies that c an preven t tobacco use and save lives. The poll show s 77% of Montana voters support a $2-per-pack cigarette tax increase as well as taxing e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches .

The poll was released Friday by the Montana Kids vs. Big Tobacco coalition and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids ( TF K) .

The American Heart Association , a relentless force chang ing the future of health for eve r yone ev erywhere and a m em ber of the Mont ana Kids vs. Bi g Tobacco co ali tion , sa id the findings reinf orce strong p ublic support for policies t hat protect ch ildren and reduce tobacco use .