VICTORVILLE — April Fool’s Day will greet smokers with a cigarette tax rate increase that will take a big bite out of their wallets.

The new cigarette tax rate increase will see the state tax on a pack of 20 cigarettes jump from 87 cents to $2.87, with the tax including nicotine delivery devices such as electronic cigarettes, e-cigars, e-pipes, vape pens, and e-hookahs.

Products sold in combination with substances containing nicotine will be subject to the current tobacco products tax rate of 27.30 percent of the wholesale cost of the product. The average price of a pack of cigarettes in California already is $5.89. Beginning Saturday, that will increase to $7.89.

California voters approved Proposition 56 last year, which increased the excise tax rate on cigarettes and expanded the definition of “tobacco products” to include any type of tobacco, nicotine, little cigars, and electronic cigarettes sold in combination with nicotine.

Outside the AMPM on Hesperia Road in Victorville, Tyrell Jenkins told the Daily Press he’ll be “about $80 poorer” at the end of the year because of the tax increase.

“Smoking helps me relax so I don’t mind paying a few extra buck,” said Jenkins, 32, a resident of Adelanto. “I just need to cut back on hamburgers and I’ll be good.”

Several smoke shop and liquor store employees, who asked not to be identified, told the Daily Press people who have money won’t have a problem paying the tax, but the increase could result in a rise in theft and other problems.

“I think you’re going to see more people stealing cigarettes,” said one employee. “The panhandlers are going to spend more time out front of the store asking for money.”

Nicotine delivery devices sold independently and not in combination with any liquid or substance containing nicotine are not subject to excise tax. This includes any battery, battery charger, carrying case, or any other accessory used in the operation of a nicotine delivery device.

Any product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a tobacco cessation product or other therapeutic purpose when that product is marketed and sold for such approved use (for instance, nicotine patches) also will not be subject to the excise tax.

The Legislative Analyst's Office reported the rate increase could possibly raise over $1 billion a year, with the majority of the money going toward the Medi-Cal health care program for low-income residents in the state.

Smoking in California has declined significantly over the last three decades. Approximately 11 percent of adults in the state use tobacco products, but there were 3.3 million fewer adult smokers in 2014 than there were in 1988.

For more information on the passage of Prop. 56, visit www. Voterguide.sos.ca.gov or www.boe.ca.gov.

Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227, RDeLa Cruz@VVDailyPress.com or on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.