Supervisor Malia Cohen Receives National Distinguished Advocacy Award for Championing Lifesaving Cancer Public Policy

Washington, D.C. – San Francisco Supervisor Malia Cohen has received the National Distinguished Advocacy Award—the most esteemed award presented by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in recognition of her dedication to fighting cancer through historic tobacco-control legislation.

ACS CAN, the advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, presents the annual award to select lawmakers who demonstrate admirable leadership in cancer-related public policy advocacy.

“By introducing and securing support for historic tobacco-control legislation that will reduce the cancer burden for San Francisco’s diverse population, Supervisor Cohen has established herself as a health advocate and a health equity champion for all,” said Chris Hansen, president of ACS CAN. “It was Supervisor Cohen who spearheaded this new law that ends the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, and now she is heroically defending the law against the tobacco industry’s attempt to repeal it at the ballot box.”

Young menthol and flavored tobacco users are disproportionately African American, Asian American, LGBTQ and from low-income communities already significantly impacted by tobacco-related disease. The restriction is unique because it makes San Francisco the first city in the country to prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco, including menthol products.

“Supervisor Cohen continues to confront Big Tobacco as it pours money into its referendum campaign aimed at misleading voters into rejecting the ordinance now slated to appear on the June ballot,” said ACS CAN California State Lead Ambassador Jose Ramos. “We want her to know that those of us touched by tobacco-related cancers are immensely grateful for her courage to battle Big Tobacco’s shameless tactics—which is just an attempt to put profits above public health and lure the next generation into tobacco addiction.”

The flavored tobacco law will save lives and millions of dollars in health care costs that are now paid by local taxpayers.

"I’m truly honored to receive this award from the very cancer advocates who have earned my utmost respect after partnering with them on this critical flavored tobacco policy,” said Supervisor Cohen. “I found it impossible to turn away from the ongoing public health threat posed by flavored tobacco after recognizing the precision with which RJ Reynolds and other companies target specific communities and my colleagues on the Board and the Mayor all agreed.  We will need ACS CAN’s advocacy strength to continue as we take on the RJ Reynold’s referendum campaign to try to undo this critical new law.”

The award was announced at ACS CAN’s annual Leadership Summit and Lobby Day in Washington, D.C., but presented to Supervisor Cohen last week since she was unable to travel to DC for its annual Leadership Summit and Lobby Day. More than 700 volunteers and staff from across the country convened to ask Congress to support policies that increase cancer research funding, improve patient quality of life and make colorectal cancer screenings more affordable for seniors.

ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.

PHOTO ATTACHED:  Supervisor Malia Cohen receives National Distinguished Advocacy Award from ACS CAN California Senior Director, Government Relations Tim Gibbs and ACS CAN California Director, Government Relations, Bay Area Cassie Ray

CONTACT:                                                                

Steph McCorkle

916 802-4033

[email protected]

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