New Report Reveals North Dakota Must Focus on Increasing the Tobacco Tax to Reduce Death and Disease from Tobacco Use

A new report from the American Lung Association urges North Dakota 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 prevent nicotine dependence and protect kids.

In the 2025 report, North Dakota received the following grades:

1. Funding for State Tobacco Prevention Programs – Grade B
2. Strength of Smokefree Workplace Laws – Grade A
3. Level of State Tobacco Taxes – Grade F
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 North Dakota’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,” said Pat McKone, Senior Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association in North Dakota. “Here in North Dakota, we see industry lobbyists working to stop or weaken proven tobacco control policies at the local level. The 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.”

McKone added: “In 2025, policymakers in North Dakota must focus on Increasing the tax on all tobacco products, taxing electronic delivery devices and keeping the Indoor Smoke Free Air Law strong.”

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. North Dakota should increase its tax on cigarettes by $1.09 per pack and make the tax on other tobacco products equal to the cigarette tax.

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.

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.

Media Resources:

• B-Roll is available here:
  • Tobacco Products: Broll TobaccoProducts. American Lung Association.mp4 | Powered by Box
  • E-Cigarettes: Broll Ecigarettes. American Lung Association.mp4 | Powered by Box
• American Lung Association logos are available here: Media | American Lung Association