A ballot initiative to remove the “additional excise taxes” on tobacco products has failed on its first try. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin felt the simple ballot initiative was too vague and lacked language clarifying what it would mean. The initiative was put forward by Libertarian activist David E. Dinwiddie of Pine Bluff.

The initiative appears to only remove taxes that the legislature has tacked on since the Tobacco Products Act of 1977, although Griffin said its wording on this could be misinterpreted.

The Tobacco Products Act of 1977 put a $10.50 tax on every 1,000 cigarettes sold. It also put a tax on cigars that was “not to exceed” 50 cents. Since then, the legislature has added more tobacco taxes. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration says the rate on tobacco products now is: “$57.50 per 1000 cigarettes or $11.50 per carton or $1.15 per pack.”

Attorney General Tim Griffin rejects tobacco tax initiative on first try