New Report Reveals Maine Must Focus on Increasing the Tax on All Tobacco Products to Reduce Death and Disease from Tobacco Use

A new report from the American Lung Association urges Maine lawmakers to focus on increasing the tax on all tobacco products to reduce the overwhelming human and financial burden of tobacco use. The 2025 “State of Tobacco Control” report evaluates state and federal policies on actions taken to eliminate tobacco use and recommends proven-effective tobacco control laws and policies to save lives. 

The “State of Tobacco Control” report grades states and the District of Columbia in five areas that have been proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use and save lives. In the 2025 report, Maine received the following grades: 

1. Funding for State Tobacco Prevention Programs – Grade A
2. Strength of Smokefree Workplace Laws – Grade B
3. Level of State Tobacco Taxes – Grade C
4. Coverage and Access to Services to Quit Tobacco – Grade A
5. Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products – Grade F

“In addition to grading Maine’s tobacco control policies, this year’s ‘State of Tobacco Control’ report examines the tobacco industry’s increasingly aggressive actions to addict a new generation to tobacco and hinder proven public policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use. Here in Maine, we are seeing tobacco industry lobbyists working to stop or weaken proven tobacco control policies. The tobacco industry is also introducing new products that appeal to youth like e-cigarettes that mimic smartphones, kid-friendly flavors and flavored nicotine pouches that are heavily marketed by social media influencers,” said Lance Boucher at the American Lung Association in Maine. “In 2025, policymakers in Maine must focus on increasing the tax on all tobacco products, ending the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies, and enacting legislation prohibiting the sale of menthol cigarettes and all flavored tobacco products statewide.”

Increasing taxes on all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, is one of the most effective ways to reduce tobacco use, especially among youth. Multiple studies have shown that every 10% increase in the price of cigarettes reduces consumption by about 4% among adults and about 7% among youth. 

Boucher added, “Maine has not raised its cigarette excise tax in 20 years, and this proven public health strategy is long overdue.  We applaud Governor Mills for including the measure in her budget proposal and we urge the legislature to ensure an increase of at least $1 of Maine’s cigarette tax remains in the final budget package enacted.  Raising the taxes on tobacco products is one of the most effective ways to help smokers to quit, prevent kids from starting to use tobacco products, and save lives in Maine.”  

Strong tobacco prevention policies working together are imperative for effectiveness, and while the American Lung Association is strongly supportive of the increase in the cigarette tax, it is imperative that the Maine Tobacco Prevention and Control program remains fully funded at the level recommended by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Best Practices level of $15.9 million annually. 

“Through the budget process, the Legislature must ensure that a fully funded tobacco prevention program is maintained.  This investment coupled with an increase in tobacco taxes, is critical to support Mainers making quit attempts and prevent youth tobacco initiation.”   
Federal Grades Overview
The 2025 “State of Tobacco Control” report grades the federal government in five areas: 

• Federal Government Regulation of Tobacco Products – Grade C 
• Federal Coverage of Quit Smoking Treatments – Grade D
• Level of Federal Tobacco Taxes – Grade F
• Federal Mass Media Campaigns to Prevent and Reduce Tobacco Use – Grade: A
• Federal Minimum Age of Sale for Tobacco Products to 21 – Grade: A

The 2025 “State of Tobacco Control” report urges Congress to provide additional funding to the FDA so they can enforce against and remove all illegal e-cigarettes the tobacco industry has introduced to the market. To learn more about this year’s “State of Tobacco Control” grades and sign the petition, visit Lung.org/sotc.

Get involved and help the mission of the American Lung Association. The Trek Across Maine is coming up on June 13th. Learn more at TrekAcrossMaine.org

State grades in “State of Tobacco Control” reflect actions taken by elected officials and do not reflect on the hard work of state tobacco control programs or advocates.