The Michigan Department of Treasury has warned 300 tobacco shops that machines they have which roll cigarettes on location may be considered illegal.
“„“A cigarette manufacturing machine will roll upwards of 20,000 cigarettes a minute,” [RYO president Phil] Accordino said. “Ours may hit about 20. It defies logic to say that our machine is a manufacturing device.”
“„Because of a bargain tax rate on pipe tobacco created by Congress, smokers can take a box of pre-made cigarette tubes, 8 ounces of tobacco and 15 minutes to produce a carton for under $30 — much less than retail. Federal tax is $1.01 on a pack of cigarettes, with another $2 added by the state.