Even as Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) is looking to close Maine’s yawning $450 million FY 26-27 budget gap and $118 million MaineCare deficit with an increased tobacco tax, Democrats in the legislature want to make it harder to buy cigarettes.
A new bill from House Majority Leader Rep. Matt Moonen (D-Portland) would impose a complete ban on pharmacies selling any tobacco products, with violations constituting a fineable civil offense.
[RELATED: Zynflation: Nicotine Pouches to Soar in Maine Thanks to 42% Excise Tax Hike…]
The bill would prohibit pharmacies from receiving a retail tobacco license.
Any establishment caught violating the new rule and distributing tobacco in any way will be guilty of a civil offense, punishable by a fine of up to $2,000.
If a pharmacy continues to operate in violation of the law, it will incur a new offense for each day that it operates while selling tobacco.
Notably, Moonen’s bill does not just affect dedicated pharmacies such as CVS, Walgreens, or other smaller stores.
It would also apply to any establishments that are not primarily a pharmacy but have a pharmacy inside them, such as Walmart or Hannaford.
The bill received multiple co-sponsors from Democrats, including Sen. Henry Ingwersen (D-York), along with five other representatives.
One Republican, Sen. Stacey Guerin (R-Penobscot), signed on to the Democrat-led bill.
Sen. Guerin did not respond to an email asking for comment.
The bill has been referred for further consideration by the Committee on Health and Human Services, although no dates have been posted for work sessions or public hearings.
Interestingly, the bill appears to be at cross purposes with a recent announcement made Gov. Mills, which included a plan to make up for part of an impending budget deficit using an increased cigarette and tobacco tax.
[RELATED: Maine Gov Wants Cigarette Tax Hike to Make Up for Mismanaged Budget, Noncitizen Welfare…]
Mills’ proposal claimed that by increasing the excise tax per pack on cigarettes by just one dollar, a tax primarily impacting low-income people who make up the majority of smokers, the state would add more than $80 million in revenue over two years.
Moonen’s bill seems to undermine Mills’s plan and could eat into her $80 million projected revenue boost.
The Maine Wire reached out to Moonen, asking if he intends to move forward with the bill despite its potential adverse effects on Mills’ plan.
Moonen did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
