California defeats tax increase on cigarettes to fund research

Voters in California have narrowly rejected a $1 a packet increase in the state sales tax on cigarettes. The measure was lost by about 50 000 votes of 3.8 million cast in the 5 June primary election, despite the fact that early polls showed 2:1 support for it.

The measure had been promoted by charities such as the American Cancer Society and the Lance Armstrong Foundation as a way to suppress tobacco sales and to generate about $735m (£475m; €590m) a year for tobacco related health research. …