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Posted: 5:56 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012

Roll your own smokes could be rolled over

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By WOKV News Team

TALLAHASSEE, Fla —

The roll your own cigarette shops in Florida could be rolled out of existence. 

The businesses are fighting a plan to classify them as manufacturers, so the state can collect the cigarette tax. 

The bill's sponsor tells the House Finance and Tax Committee it would close a tax law loophole.

Rep. Mike Horner, a Kissimmee Republican, says the businesses began popping up three years ago after Florida increased its tax by $1 a pack.

Customers buy low-tax pipe tobacco and feed it into a machine that spits out 20 cigarettes a minute. The net cost is about half as much as factory-made cigarettes.

The bill would classify roll-your-own businesses as manufacturers so the state could collect cigarette tax.

The committee approved it but delayed the effective date for two years. A similar Senate bill has yet to get a committee hearing.

(The AP contributed to this report)

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