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California voters on Tuesday approved an increase in the state’s tobacco tax by $2 per pack of cigarettes. California’s tobacco tax is 87 cents per pack, and it has not been raised since 1999. Proposition 56 will raise the per-pack tax to $2.87. The measure also will impose tobacco taxes on vaping products for the first time, applying to e-cigarettes containing nicotine. (Gutierrez and Whiting, 11/9)

Voters made a clear choice on raising the price of cigarettes, but were more circumspect about regulating the pornography and pharmaceutical industries at the ballot box. (Dembosky, 11/9)

Several health-related initiatives in California appeared headed for passage Tuesday, including a cigarette tax, legalization of recreational marijuana and additional funding for Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program. A measure intended to cap prescription drug prices, watched closely around the nation and strongly opposed by the pharmaceutical industry, was trailing. (Ibarra, 11/9)

An amendment to the state constitution that would sharply raise the tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products was rejected Tuesday night by Colorado voters opposed to the measure aimed at reducing youth smoking and channeling the revenue to a variety of health programs. (Simpson, 11/8)

North Dakota will remain among the states with the lowest taxes on tobacco products after voters denied a ballot measure Tuesday night. Initiated Statutory Measure 4, The North Dakota Tobacco Tax Increase Initiative, would have raised the tax on cigarettes to $2.20. (11/8)

Missouri voters sorted through columns of potentially confusing statewide ballot issues Tuesday, and with 87 percent of precincts reporting, two taxes on tobacco were going down to defeat. But voters came out in favor of making Missouri a state that requires a photo ID to vote. (Robertson, 11/8)