Dan Carden

Indiana collected an unprecedented $50 million in cigarette tax revenue in August — a 177.4% increase compared to the $18 million in state cigarette tax receipts from the same month a year ago.

Data released Friday by the State Budget Agency show state cigarette tax revenue continues to soar as smokers cope with a $2 per pack increase in Indiana's cigarette tax enacted by the Republican-controlled General Assembly and Republican Gov. Mike Braun.

State lawmakers agreed in April to hike Indiana's cigarette tax to $3 per pack, from $1 per pack, beginning July 1, and to apply similar tax increases on cigar, pipe and vape users, amid growing Medicaid health expenses and a dismal, tariff-impacted state revenue forecast.

The $50 million in August receipts, combined with the sta

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