Big Tobacco is about to meet a challenge in the state of California. Yesterday, ACS CAN CEO Dr. John Seffrin announced a pledge to support California's Proposition 29, the California Cancer Research Act, an historic ballot initiative that would make California the second largest funder of cancer research after the U.S. federal government. The Lance Armstrong Foundation yesterday also announced a contribution in support of coalition efforts to pass the measure. ACS CAN and the American Cancer Society California Division have already donated approximately $1 million to the Prop. 29 campaign and today, ACS CAN pledged up to $1.25 million more to match the coalition's fundraising efforts. Through a $1.00 increase in the state cigarette tax, Prop. 29 would provide $600 million a year in new research funding for cancer, stroke, heart disease, emphysema and other smoking-related diseases. This is great news for research doctors and scientists in California who could be working on the next big breakthrough against these diseases. It's also good news for children living in California. A tobacco tax increase is proven to prevent kids from ever starting to smoke and encourage adults to quit the deadly habit. In fact, research shows that every 10 percent increase in the price of tobacco reduces youth smoking rates by 6.5 percent and overall cigarette consumption by 4 percent. We know that in California a $1.00 increase in the price of tobacco will result in more than 100,000 deaths averted from premature smoking and nearly 230,000 kids who will never become addicted smokers. California's Prop. 29 could become one of the most historic ballot initiatives to tackle cancer in our lifetime.
Paid for by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Ballot Committee *Images retrieved from: http://on.fb.me/zuCPe8
Today’s blog is one of a series of posts highlighting how ACS CAN is examining, prioritizing and pursuing policy interventions that ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to prevent, find, treat and survive cancer. Achieving health equity in communities nationwide is a cornerstone of our mission.