3. a. There is imposed a tax upon the sale, use or distribution of moist snuff within this State by a distributor or wholesaler to a retail dealer or consumer at the rate of $0.75 per ounce on the net weight, as listed by the manufacturer, of the moist snuff, and a proportionate rate on all fractional parts of an ounce of the net weight of moist snuff.
b. Unless a moist snuff product has already been or will be subject to the wholesale sales tax imposed in subsection a. of this section, if a distributor or wholesaler uses the moist snuff within this State, there is imposed upon the distributor or wholesaler a compensating use tax of $0.75 per ounce on the net weight, as listed by the manufacturer, of the moist snuff, and a proportionate rate on all fractional parts of an ounce of the net weight of moist snuff.
c. Unless a wholesale use tax is due pursuant to subsection b. of this section, if a distributor or wholesaler has not paid the wholesale sales tax imposed in subsection a. of this section upon a sale that is subject to the wholesale sales tax imposed in that subsection a., there is imposed upon the retail dealer or consumer chargeable for the sale a compensating use tax of $0.75 per ounce on the net weight, as listed by the manufacturer, of the moist snuff, and a proportionate rate on all fractional parts of an ounce of the net weight of moist snuff, which shall be collected in the manner provided in subsection b. of section 5 of P.L.1990, c.39 (C.54:40B-5).