How does your state compare?

Federal Regulation of Tobacco Products Federal Cessation Coverage Federal Tobacco Taxes Federal Mass Media Campaigns Federal Minimum Age
C D F A I*
Federal Regulation of Tobacco Products C
Federal Cessation Coverage D
Federal Tobacco Taxes F
Federal Mass Media Campaigns A
Federal Minimum Age I*

The American Lung Association has identified five key actions for the Biden administration and Congress to take in 2024 that will help ultimately eliminate the death and disease caused by tobacco use:

  1. The White House must swiftly finalize the two rules that will remove all menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars from the marketplace;  
  2. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must finalize its review of all premarket tobacco product applications for both tobacco-derived and synthetic-nicotine products;  
  3. The FDA and the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security must act to remove all illegal tobacco products from the marketplace;  
  4. Congress must at least maintain current funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Office on Smoking and Health;  
  5. Congress must pass H.R. 4775, the Helping Tobacco Users Quit Act, bipartisan legislation giving more people access to the resources they need to quit tobacco. 

Federal Information

Learn more about specific legislation regarding efforts toward effective Tobacco Control.

Highlights Methodology

Federal Information

Learn more about specific legislation regarding efforts towards effective Tobacco Control.

Highlights Methodology
Federal Regulation of Tobacco Products
Thumbs Up

Thumbs down – Thumbs down for the Biden administration for failing to finalize rules to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars

Federal Regulation of Tobacco Products

Overall Grade C
Implementation of Rule Asserting Authority over All Tobacco Products: Rule partially implemented
Graphic Cigarette Warning Labels: Warning labels finalized, but not in effect*
Product Standards, including Flavored Tobacco Products: Product standards to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars proposed
Funding for FDA Center for Tobacco Products: Full funding without policy riders

* FDA has finalized graphic warning labels for cigarettes, but a federal court decision, which has been appealed, has vacated the rule.

Help Fight Tobacco Use

Join our efforts to create a tobacco-free future. Stand with the American Lung Association to prevent and reduce tobacco use in your state.

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Federal Cessation Coverage

Federal Cessation Coverage

Overall Grade D
Medicaid Coverage: Partially Required
Medicare Coverage: Partially Covered
TRICARE Coverage: Covered
Federal Employee Health Benefits Coverage: Covered
State Health Insurance Exchanges: Partially Required

Help Fight Tobacco Use

Join our efforts to create a tobacco-free future. Stand with the American Lung Association to prevent and reduce tobacco use in your state.

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Federal Tobacco Taxes

Federal Tobacco Taxes

Overall Grade F
Cigarette Tax:
Tax rate per pack of 20: $1.01
Other Tobacco Product Taxes:
Little Cigars: Equalized: Yes; Weight-Based: Yes
Large Cigars: Equalized: No; Weight-Based: No
Smokeless Tobacco: Equalized: No; Weight-Based: Yes
Pipe/RYO Tobacco: Equalized: No; Weight-Based: Yes 
E-Cigarettes: Equalized: N/A; Weight-Based: N/A

Help Fight Tobacco Use

Join our efforts to create a tobacco-free future. Stand with the American Lung Association to prevent and reduce tobacco use in your state.

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Federal Mass Media Campaigns

Federal Mass Media Campaigns

Overall Grade A
Tips from Former Smokers Media Campaign:
Reach: Meets Target
Duration: Under Target
Frequency: Meets Target
Promotion of Services: Meets Target
FDA "Real Costs" Media Campaign:
Reach: Meets Target
Duration: Meets Target
Frequency: Meets Target
Promotion of Services: Under Target

Help Fight Tobacco Use

Join our efforts to create a tobacco-free future. Stand with the American Lung Association to prevent and reduce tobacco use in your state.

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Federal Minimum Age

Federal Minimum Age

Overall Grade I*
Minimum Age of Sale for Tobacco Products: 21

*The federal government gets an “I” for Incomplete because FDA has not issued implementing regulations that were required by statute to be issued by June 17, 2020.

Help Fight Tobacco Use

Join our efforts to create a tobacco-free future. Stand with the American Lung Association to prevent and reduce tobacco use in your state.

Take Action