James W. Mitchell smokes at 40th and Market Street Wednesday. (DAVID SWANSON / Staff Photographer)

The two-dollar tax on cigarettes generated over 50 million dollars for Philadelphia public schools in the act’s first nine months. According to UPenn PRC’s Community Advisory Board member, Giridhar Mallya, calls to the smoking cessation line run by health officials have doubled since the tax was enacted. Mallya predicts people will either stop smoking, minimize their smoking frequency, or find cigarettes elsewhere.

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