A possible 70-cent tax hike is one of the key issues in the Kentucky legislature this session.

The cigarette tax has been very publicly endorsed by both the American Heart Association and American Cancer Society.

These organizations look at the tax as a state health incentive, but those opposed to the tax see it from a very different perspective.

"For a New Years resolution, I wanted to quit smoking," says Jennifer Crandall. "Then I find out about the tax thing."

Jennifer's wanting to kick her pack a day habit, but if a 70 cent cigarette tax hike hits Kentucky, she may not be able to afford it.

"Not in the near future," Jennifer admits. "Honestly, no, not with the bills and the rent. Utilities are high because gas is up. It's cold, so the bills are up."

Tobacco farming's been in Don Fuller's family for five generations, but he's worried consumers will end up in Jennifer's position.

"There's lots of things impacting tobacco right now," Fuller says. "This cigarette tax is just the latest in a lot of things."

Fuller sees a cigarette tax as only a short term fix for the economy.

"It's not only going to hurt tobacco farmers but all the farmers in the state of Kentucky. It's going to cause job loss. It's going to cause income loss in the state."

Despite the tax, Jennifer's not so sure many smokers will quit.

"If people want to smoke, they're going to keep smoking no matter what the tax is," she explains. "For the people who already smoke, it's hard to quit."

While he's not sure how consumers will react to the tax, Don says he just wants legislators to know that tobacco is his livelihood.

"Tobacco has put my kids through school, put my grandkids through school," he says. "It's just a way of life for certain people."

If the cigarette tax hike passes, Don says he may make his farm more focused on cattle than it is now.