A new $2 per pack tax on cigarettes, both electronic and traditional, is one of the many choices on the ballot for California voters.

Proposition 56 calls for an increase of $2 on cigarette taxes and for a change in the definition of ‘other tobacco products,’ so that e-cigarettes are included, which means all current taxes on cigarettes will also apply to e-cigarettes.

The current excise tax on cigarettes in California is $0.87. There is also a $1.01 federal tax on tobacco.

Currently, 14 states have a lower tax than California, while D.C. and 35 other states have higher taxes. Revenue from the current state tax on tobacco goes to the General Fund, tobacco prevention, healthcare services for low-income persons, environmental protection, breast cancer screenings and research, and early childhood development programs.

In the 2015-16 fiscal year, a total of $810 million was raised for these beneficiaries.

The money went to the following places:

$84 million went to the General Fund.

$259 million went towards tobacco prevention, healthcare services for low-income persons, and environmental protection.

$20 million went to breast cancer screenings and research.

$447 million was for early childhood development programs.

Proposition 56 will not change this, it will just add $2. to the existing tax, bringing the tax to a total of $2.87. The additional $2.00 in revenue will be distributed accordingly

The new revenue would replace old revenue lost due to lower tobacco consumption resulting from tobacco tax increase

5 percent of revenue will pay the costs of administering the tax.

$48 million to enforcing tobacco laws

$40 million to physician training to increase the number of primary care and emergency physicians in the state

$30 million toward preventing and treating dental diseases

$400,000 to the California State Auditor to audit funds from the new tax

82 percent of remaining funds towards services related to Medi-Cal

11 percent of remaining funds towards tobacco-use prevention

5 percent of remaining funds towards research into cancer, heart and lung diseases, and other tobacco-related diseases

2 percent of remaining funds towards school programs focusing on tobacco-use prevention and reduction

In Support of Prop 56

Supporters of the tax argue the proposition will prevent youth from starting smoking, address the tobacco industry targeting youth as customers and reduce tobacco related health care costs, while creating state revenue to offset the costs. The provision includes guidelines for transparency and safeguards on the use of the tax revenue generated.

In Opposition of Prop 56

Opponents of the tax argue the tax doesn’t allocate funds for schools, and it provides money for  insurance companies and special interests, more than it will fund smoking-related illness and youth smoking prevention.

Check out other proposition stories by clicking below:

Proposition 51

Proposition 57

Proposition 58

Proposition 63

Proposition 64

Proposition 65