Taxes from tobacco sales in New Jersey could help fund cancer research

🔵 New legislation in New Jersey would appropriate more funds to prevent smoking

🔵 The legislation would take more tax revenue from tobacco products to provide more funding to New Jersey Cancer Research Fund

🔵 Two state senators explain the importance of funds to cut down on smoking and lower risk of cancer

There are more funds that could soon be added toward cancer research and education about the effects and impacts of smoking in New Jersey.

Legislation sponsored by Sens. Robert Singer, R-Ocean, and Anthony Bucco, R-Morris, which was approved by the State Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee on Monday afternoon, would provide more tax revenue from tobacco products sold to the New Jersey Cancer Research Fund.

Singer and Bucco said in a joint statement that their legislation, S-929, would increase the tax revenue from cigarettes and tobacco products the NJCRF is receiving to $10 million, with $5 million going towards general cancer research and the other $5 million going toward pediatric cancer research.

“Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in New Jersey and the lingering effects of the pandemic have only exacerbated the situation by reducing access to clinical trials and closing laboratories,” Singer said in a statement. “The additional funding and support provided by this bill will allow researchers to investigate new cancer treatments and new ways of preventing this insidious disease that has affected the lives of millions of people.”

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“As cancer rates have continued to rise in New Jersey, the impact on society — as well as the families of those affected — has been devastating,” Bucco said in a statement. “With better-funded research, we can improve treatments and survival rates to ensure that luck is no longer a factor in deciding which people with cancer will have an opportunity to live full lives. Funding research today will help us save lives tomorrow.”