Tobacco Control

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Tobacco products are projected to kill one billion people worldwide this century. And the industry is showing no signs of slowing down, spending more than $9 billion on marketing each year. 

Despite the industry's deceptive and deadly practices, ACS CAN continues to have enormous success passing local, state and federal laws that prevent children from smoking, help adults quit and ensure the government uses its authority to regulate tobacco industry practices.

While our work has had an enormous impact on youth cigarette use - now at historic lows - the use of e-cigarettes among kids is skyrocketing.  This further reinforces the importance of continuing this lifesaving work.

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Protect our Children from Big Tobacco

The tobacco industry has preyed upon young people by marketing products that appeal to kids.

Latest Updates

December 16, 2024
Colorado

The Denver City Council voted 11-1 Monday evening to end the sale of most flavored tobacco products within city limits. While the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) and its team of advocates, including cancer survivors and patients, are encouraged by the decision, the legislation includes an exemption for flavored hookah tobacco products which ACS CAN does not support.

December 11, 2024
Texas

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the American Lung Association, and American Heart Association commend the Dallas City Council's recent amendment to the city’s comprehensive smoke-free ordinance to include e-cigarettes, vaporizers, and other electronic smoking devices. This significant update reflects the council's ongoing commitment to safeguarding public health. It instills a sense of security in the community to know that the council is dedicated to creating a safer environment for all Dallas residents.

November 25, 2024
National

In a tremendous victory for public health, the U.S. Supreme Court today refused to hear a tobacco industry challenge to graphic health warnings on cigarette packs and advertisements required under a 2020 FDA rule .

November 21, 2024
National

During this year’s American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Great American Smokeout® on November 21, ACS and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) are encouraging people who use tobacco to take an important step toward a healthier life by making a plan to quit.

Tobacco Control Resources

Comprehensive tobacco retailer licensing laws can reduce the harmful impact of the tobacco retail environment by regulating where and how tobacco retailers can operate and sell tobacco products as well as providing the licensing entity the authority to ensure tobacco retailers are complying with all applicable tobacco control laws.

In 1999, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against major tobacco manufacturers Philip Morris USA, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, Lorillard, and Altria to hold the industry accountable for more than 50 years of conspiring to defraud the public in violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Big Tobacco, an industry which has for decades knowingly addicted and endangered the lives of millions of Americans for their own profit, must now post the truth about their deadly products, including at the point-of-sale (POS) for approximately 220,000 tobacco retailers.

The tobacco industry has a history of using litigation to avoid and delay laws and regulations enacted to safeguard the public. ACS CAN, with our tobacco control partners, has also relied on the courts to hold Big Tobacco accountable and to ensure the federal government is effectively implementing the Tobacco Control Act.