“There will be time enough for such claims after the election, if Missouri voters find Amendment No. 3 to their liking,” the court found.

It’s not a debate that’s likely to end anytime soon. At issue is a larger fight between bigger and smaller tobacco companies doing business in Missouri, and the proposal the court ruled on Tuesday is one of two tax hikes that will appear on the ballot Nov. 8.

The other is a 23-cent increase backed by smaller tobacco companies, with the promise of money generated going toward transportation improvements.

The dueling initiatives mark a long fight between Big Tobacco, which is bankrolling the Raise Your Hand for Kids petition, and smaller companies backing the 23-cent hike, over a loophole that allows smaller companies to avoid making payments to the state from a 1998 court settlement.

It remains unclear what will immediately happen if both tobacco measures win approval from voters.

While supporters have said they are operating as if both taxes would take effect, a spokesman for Kander said that would be up to the courts to decide after the election.