Press Room

Cancer Advocates Urge West Virginia Lawmakers to Pass Tobacco Prevention Measures on the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout® and National Rural Health Day

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is disappointed that lawmakers chose Big Tobacco over the health of West Virginians in the state budget.

The West Virginia House introduced a budget that fails to prioritize reducing West Virginia’s high tobacco burden. 

Recently, Sen. Tom Takubo introduced legislation, Senate Bill 84, to increase the tax on cigarettes and all other tobacco products while investing a portion of the revenue in fact-based tobacco prevention and cessation programs. This is an important step towards a cleaner, safer, healthier West Virginia that will help kids break the cycle of addiction and tobacco-related disease. 

West Virginia Tops the Nation in Tobacco Use Rates. West Virginia Can and Must Do Better.

Hogan will lead ACS CAN’s efforts in the state to advance legislation and public policies to reduce cancer. 

State Lawmakers Can and Must Do Better When it Comes to Tobacco Control.

Statement from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Government Relations Director Kristy Young

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – As lawmakers dive into the 2022 legislative session, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) urges legislators to prioritize increasing tobacco control funding and raising the state’s tobacco taxes which will ease the burden of cancer in West Virginia. 

CHARLESTON, W. VA. – Cancer patients and survivors are marking the American Cancer Society’s 46th annual Great American Smokeout tomorrow by calling on elected officials to protect the health of all West Virginia residents by implementing strong tobacco control legislation.