Protect Ohioans from Big Tobacco

If nothing is done to reduce tobacco use, 259,000 Ohio kids currently under 18 will ultimately die prematurely from smoking. Ohio can and must do better. Ohio can reduce tobacco use by significantly increasing taxes on all tobacco products and investing in tobacco prevention and cessation programs.

Ohio has not raised its cigarette tax in more than nine years. Ohio's cigarette tax is currently $1.60 per pack, making us 29th among all states and DC. The annual health care expenditures in Ohio directly caused by smoking are $6.56 billion.

Urge Ohio lawmakers to increase funding to $20 million for fact-based tobacco control programs to prevent kids from starting to use tobacco and help adults quit. Also call on Ohio lawmakers to pass a life-saving $1.50 per pack cigarette tax with a parallel tax on all other tobacco products through the legislature in 2025 to reduce health care costs, protect kids, and save lives.