(a) “Consumer” means a person who possesses cigarettes or other tobacco products for a purpose other than selling or transporting the cigarettes or other tobacco products.

(b) The tobacco tax does not apply to:

(1) cigarettes that a licensed wholesaler under Title 16 of the Business Regulation Article is holding for sale outside the State or to a United States armed forces exchange or commissary;

(2) other tobacco products that an other tobacco products wholesaler licensed under Title 16.5 of the Business Regulation Article is holding for sale outside the State or to a United States armed forces exchange or commissary; or

(3) cigarettes or other tobacco products that:

(i) a consumer brings into the State: 1. if the quantity brought from another state does not exceed other tobacco products having a retail value of $100 or 5 cartons of cigarettes; or 2. if the quantity brought from a United States armed forces installation or reservation does not exceed other tobacco products having a retail value of $100 or 5 cartons of cigarettes;