The 23rd annual American Lung Association “State of Tobacco Control” report was released this week – which evaluates states and the federal government on the proven-effective tobacco control laws and policies necessary to save lives. The report serves as a blueprint for what state and federal leaders need to do to cut the death and disease caused by tobacco use.
In the report, the Lung Association assigns letter grades, A through F, to the state and federal policies best proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use.
From the report: Arizona Highlights | State of Tobacco Control | American Lung Association
This year’s report highlights tobacco industry aggression at the state and federal level to protect its profits at the expense of the public’s health. These include tobacco industry efforts to stop former President Biden from ending the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars as well as industry efforts at the state level to stop proven-effective policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use.
The report also shows states’ progress or lack thereof on implementing policies to reduce tobacco use and help people end their addiction to tobacco.
The American Lung Association calls for the following actions to be taken by Arizona’s elected officials:
- Enact a statewide tobacco retailer licensing system;
- Oppose all forms of statewide preemption for sales or use of tobacco products; and
- Increase state funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
During the 2024 legislative session, the Lung Association in Arizona worked on legislation to create a statewide tobacco retail licensing system, raise the sales age of tobacco products to 21, and to include electronic smoking devices in the Clean Indoor Air Act. Unfortunately, the bill did not get a hearing.
There were also bills introduced by the tobacco industry. One bill would have created an e-cigarette product registry based on U.S. Food and Drug Administration pre-market tobacco application status that was pushed by the industry in multiple states.
A second bill would have defined heated tobacco products and taxed them at a small rate. The Lung Association opposed both bills, and, thankfully, neither bill ultimately advanced to the Governors’ office.
During the 2025 legislative session, the American Lung Association will again work diligently to educate our lawmakers on the enormous negative economic impacts that tobacco use has on Arizona.
Creating a tobacco retailer licensing system and opposing all forms of statewide preemption on tobacco product sales laws will continue to be a priority.
