Tobacco Regulation and Products

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In 2009, we won a hard-fought campaign that led to Congress passing a law granting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate all tobacco products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars and hookah. Yet, it took the FDA seven years to begin their oversight of many of these products with much more work left to be done. 

Recent spikes in the use of e-cigarettes makes clear that more must be done to regulate tobacco products and the industry's deceptive marketing practices.  We are working to ensure the government fully leverages the regulatory power it now possesses to protect children and adults. 

Tobacco use costs our nation nearly $300 billion in health care and productivity losses each year.

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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

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
Wyoming

CHEYENNE, WYO. – – Cancer patients, survivors and advocates are marking the American Cancer Society's 48th annual Great American Smokeout® today by calling on elected officials across the state to do more to reduce tobacco use. The Great American Smokeout is a day for people who use tobacco to create

November 21, 2024
Washington

OLYMPIA, Wash. –– Cancer patients, survivors and advocates are marking the American Cancer Society's 48th annual Great American Smokeout® today by calling on elected officials across the state to do more to reduce tobacco use. The Great American Smokeout is a day for people who use tobacco to create a

November 21, 2024
Montana

HELENA, MONT. –– Cancer patients, survivors and advocates are marking the American Cancer Society's 48th annual Great American Smokeout® today by calling on elected officials across the state to do more to reduce tobacco use. The Great American Smokeout is a day for people who use tobacco to create a

Tobacco Regulation and Products Resources

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.

Implementation of graphic warnings in the U.S. has been thwarted by tobacco industry legal challenges. The American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), along with our partners, have fought back in the judicial system, using litigation to both compel the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue graphic warning regulations and help the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) defend the regulations finalized by FDA.

Tobacco use has been found to be one of the primary drivers of cancer-related health disparities because its use disproportionately impacts people based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, mental health, income level, education level, and geographic location. Achieving health equity relies heavily on eliminating tobacco use. ACS CAN is pursuing fact-based tobacco control policies at the local, state and federal levels that aim to reduce disparities and improve health outcomes for everyone.