The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids estimates that the increase will result in 65,800 kids who will never start smoking due to the $4.17 average per-pack cost, and 33,300 smokers who will quit.

About 9,100 babies will be protected from harm. The state will save about $1.5 billion in long-term smoking-related healthcare expenses. The increase puts the tax at $1.77, up from 77 cents, which had previously been one of the lowest state tobacco taxes in the nation.