Cigarettes And Taxes

So what's up with the rapid increase in cigarette taxes as of late?
I'm not sure about where you live, but here in Kentucky, smokes are going through the roof! I went into Murray today to buy some smokes. One discount smoke shop had my Marlboro lights priced at $38.88 per carton! Just a few weeks ago they were $28 and some change! There was a sign on the entrance way saying that on April 1,2009 there would be an increase per carton of 10 bucks. What the fuck? I did not buy from this place, needless to say.
I went to a different store at the local Wal-Mart. You know, the gas station at the Wal-Mart entrance. Price? $28 bucks. Sign at the register saying to buy now before the price goes up on Monday, by $7.50 per carton. The sign originally said that this was a Phillip Morris price hick, but that was crossed out and now says all brands going up.
Kentucky was looking at a $6 per carton price hike because of a state tax increase on the product. So why are we now looking at an almost up to $20 increase in the price? Smokers are getting fucked by not only the state, but the stores also!