RALEIGH - Reinstating the cigarette tax stamp may have a better chance of becoming reality, thanks to the seal of approval from R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports that, according to analysts, "$1 million in annual excise tax revenue could be gained by reviving the stamp, which hasn't been used in the state in 18 years." The stamp was eliminated in 1993 because at that time, excise tax revenue, which was 5 cents a pack compared to the now 45 cents a pack, wasn??t worth the "administrative, logistics and enforcement costs of the stamps," the newspaper adds.

Tax stamps add visual proof to packs of cigarettes that the excise tax was in fact collected prior to hitting retail shelves, as well as serve as legal proof against contraband smokes.

According to Philip Morris, based on World Health Organization estimates, 5 percent of the North American cigarette trade is contraband, and "North Carolina potentially lost $12.4 million in additional cigarette-tax revenue in 2010," notes the newspaper.

"Having a tax stamp on cigarettes in all of these states will help ensure that all applicable taxes are collected on each sale," Frank Lester, communications director for RAI Services Co., told the newspaper.

But not everyone is on board: Jeff Smith, executive director of the N.C. and Virginia Wholesalers and Distributors Association, said the bill would be harmful to wholesalers and distributors. "We have a list of eight or nine problems that we've got with both bills and will address them at the appropriate time," he commented.

Wholesalers and distributors receive a 2 percent discount (or 2 cents of the 45 cents) on excise taxes that they handle to "offset the cost they incur for administration, equipment and employees ?" even though there is no stamp. The new bills would provide nine-tenths of a cent for every stamp they buy," writes the newspaper.

North Dakota and South Carolina are the only other states without a cigarette tax stamp.