Proposition 56, the California referendum that would increase the state cigarette tax by USD 2 (EUR 1.80) per pack, will be on the 8 November ballot, the state election office said.

Equivalent increases to the cigarette tax would be levied on other tobacco products, including e-cigarettes with nicotine, according to the office of Secretary of State Alex Padilla. Additional tax revenue, estimated at between USD 1.1 billion and 1.6 billion by 2017-2018, would fund healthcare programmes.