I'm torn on this... I'm not a smoker, but I feel that adults should be able to do whatever they please, provided it does not harm anyone else. As such, all you smokers should be able to puff away 24x7 if you want, away from non-smokers. While it would be nice if people stopped smoking for their own health, it's not the government's place to tell them that.

But... A number of health problems are linked directly to smoking. According to the National Cancer Institute, smoking can lead to cancers of the lung, trachea, bronchus, larynx, pharynx, oral cavity, nasal cavity, and esophagus. It has even been linked to cancers in the digestive system, as well as leukemia. They also believe cigarettes are responsible for 25% of dealth from house fires.

So... I'll make a deal with you. You just keep on smokin', but when you get cancer or your house burns down, don't expect any insurance money or taxpayer paid services for your self-inflicted injuries. Insurance won't pay for self-inflicted wounds, so why should it pay for self-inflicted cancer?

Enjoyed Ian's take on Government power over smoking. thanks Robert.

This is about forcing tobacco companies to be honest about their products. Consumers can't make informed decisions about products if the companies are permitted to lie at every turn about the health effects of their products. Naming cigarettes "lites" or making claims that these particular cigarettes are less unhealthy that are provably false is unfair and ought to be illegal. Only someone who's hate for any and all government has blinded them could be against regulating the claims that purveyors of known harmful products can make.

I do not believe that the reason is because the government is trying to control everything...it's about HEALTH CARE! The cost of health care is alarmingly high. The government is in a predicament to try to come up with ways to make health care affordable to EVERY American. Who foots a majority of the bill? The tax payer. A GREAT deal of health problems can be attributed to smoking. Therefore, taxing those that contribute to the problem the most makes sense. Smokers CHOOSE to smoke and get sick and have a multitude of health problems. There are some unfortunate people out there who contract diseases that have a led a healthy life. So, why is it that they have to go bankrupt because of it? By increasing the tax, the government is trying to convince people to STOP smoking, therefore, decreasing the health problems and improving the cost of health care.
The tax is not without good reason.