Tobacco Control Press Releases
JUNEAU, Alaska – Cancer patients, their families and other volunteers from around the state who have been touched by cancer united at the State Capitol in Juneau today to share their personal stories and push for policy change to fight cancer.
Washington, D.C. – February 13, 2020 – A report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) provides an updated snapshot of states’ Medicaid coverage of tobacco cessation treatments and therapies.
The administration released its FY21 budget today which contains significant cuts to health care programs. If implemented, the cuts could leave millions more Americans uninsured and unable to access comprehensive health coverage and stall medical research essential to preventing, detecting and treating cancer.
The following statement can be attributed to Jocelyn Collins, Maryland Government Relations Director of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN): “The scope of Comptroller Franchot’s proposal is far too limited—as this issue doesn’t just start and end with some e-cigarettes. We need to pass HB3/SB233 to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products in Maryland, including flavored cigars and menthol cigarettes. If passed, this bill would end the sale of all flavored tobacco products including electronic smoking devices (often called e-cigarettes), menthol cigarettes, flavored cigars and smokeless tobacco.
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations holds a hearing on e-cigarette use in the United States amid an ongoing youth tobacco epidemic and one day before the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to begin enforcement of the agency’s weak guidance released in early January that put industry profits above the health of children.
HARTFORD - In his budget message today, Gov. Lamont called for several tobacco control provisions, including restricting the sale of all flavored e-cigarettes, including menthol, in Connecticut.
HARRISBURG, Pa.—Gov. Tom Wolf delivered his budget address to the Pennsylvania state legislature today. The budget maintains funding for the state tobacco control programs, which help people who smoke quit and prevent young people from starting. It also includes level funding for cancer screening at approximately $2.5 million.
TALLAHASSEE, FL – February 4, 2020 – Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Innovation, Industry and Technology passed bill SB 810 to increase the state’s age of sale for all tobacco products to align with the federal age of sale and enable enforcement.
On Thursday, Feb. 6, cancer patients and survivors from across the state will head to the Maryland State Capitol to meet with state lawmakers about supporting bills to end the sale of all flavored tobacco in Maryland. (HB3/SB233) and to increase the state’s tobacco excise tax by $2 per pack on cigarettes with a parallel tax of 86% of the wholesale price on all other tobacco products including e-cigarettes (SB3/HB 732).
BOSTON – On Friday, Gov. Baker announced a fiscal year 2020 supplemental budget which includes $2 million to address the widespread use of e-cigarettes in the Commonwealth, through a multipronged approach of prevention, intervention and awareness.