For 20 years, the annual “State of Tobacco Control” report has graded states and the federal government on their implementation and enforcement of policies proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use. Once again, California finds itself as one of the Nation’s leaders in regards to Smokefree Air, Tobacco Taxes, Flavored Tobacco Products and other key areas. The implementation of California’s statewide flavored tobacco law is a major highlight of this year’s results.
While California continues to push for new and effective tobacco control policies at the state level, local policy change remains at the heart of the state’s efforts against tobacco use. In conjunction with the national report, the State of Tobacco Control 2023- California Local Grades report issues grades for all 482 cities and 58 counties in California on policies for Smokefree Outdoor Air, Smokefree Housing, Flavored Tobacco and Reducing Sales of Tobacco Products. This report identifies progressive local government as the driving force behind California’s tobacco reform. Despite widespread local level policy change, tobacco remains the nation’s leading cause of preventable death and disease, taking an estimated 480,000 lives each year. It is essential that California continues to push for protection of all residents. The American Lung Association and its partners continue to call for immediate action to reduce smoking rates, protect all Americans from secondhand smoke, and ultimately eliminate the deaths and diseases caused by tobacco use.
View the nationwide American Lung Association "State of Tobacco Control" 2023 report at www.lung.org/sotc
Download the State of Tobacco Control 2023 - California Local Grades
Page last updated: January 20, 2023
