Cigarette prices jump nearly $6 per carton

Cigarette smokers visiting any Akwesasne convenience store Wednesday to fill up on their tobacco goods were taken aback at an unexpected jump in prices. Based on off-reservation taxation action, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Compliance Department ordered Akwesasne stores to raise their prices on both Native and non-Native cigarettes.

Following a meeting with Akwesasne stores and the SRMT’s Compliance Dept. on Tuesday, stores were notified to raise prices on all major brands by $5.90. A carton of Marlboro had previously cost $39. As of Wednesday they now cost $44.90.

Following Tuesday’s meeting, it was agreed that prices on Native made cigarettes would also increase. Last week a carton of Natives or Nations cost $15. They are now marked at $18.

Prices have increased off the reservation as well, but for smokers the burden of cost is becoming unbearable regardless of where they shop.

Mary Gray, manager of Truckstop #9, said that many customers are switching to the lower-priced Native-made tobacco products.

“It’s more and more every week,” she said.

While Natives are still the highest selling brand of Native-made cigarettes, Gray said the Nations brand packaged by Jacobs Tobacco is also a popular seller.

The fight Indian reservations are having with New York State over the sale of untaxed cigarettes to non-Natives has lead Akwesasne businesses to hire a lawyer together. A former representative for Phillip Morris has been retained for at least a year’s work to help Akwesasne fight off state efforts to force taxation.