Maryland Highlights

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States and in Maryland. To address this enormous toll, the American Lung Association calls for the following actions to be taken by Maryland’s elected officials:

During the 2023 legislative session, the American Lung Association in Maryland along with other public health partners were successful in protecting Maryland’s Clean Indoor Air Act. As part of the package to develop an infrastructure around marijuana sales in the state there was language included which would have allowed for the onsite smoking of marijuana in certain establishments that also served food. The Lung Association and its partners were opposed to this provision and were able to successfully have it removed to mirror the protections of the Clean Indoor Air Act as it relates to tobacco.

In fiscal year 2023, the tobacco prevention and cessation program received a much-needed increase of $8.25 million as a result of the Lung Association and partners advocacy for an increase in the tobacco tax. This increase was maintained for fiscal year 2024. Additionally, House Bill 321 passed, the bill requires any revenue associated with the enforcement actions of the sale of e-cigarettes, including the recent Juul settlement to be directed to the tobacco prevention and cessation program. This will result in $2.4 million in additional funding for the program.

Finally, the Lung Association and partners were successful in beating back an effort in Wicomico County which would have allowed for the establishment of cigar bars. This bill would have undermined Maryland’s Clean Indoor Air Act.

Since 2013 and the court ruling in Altadis v. Prince George’s County, Maryland has had strong preemption rules in place restricting local governments from acting locally on tobacco sales and distribution. This has created a number of challenges, especially in the area of tobacco control. The Lung Association will continue to partner with stakeholders to address statewide legislation which would allow local governments to pass and enforce their own tobacco control laws.

The Clean Indoor Air Act in Maryland currently does not include e-cigarettes, there are also some definitional loopholes that need to be corrected to ensure that all Marylanders are protected from exposure to secondhand smoke. Closing these loopholes will continue to be a priority for the Lung Association moving forward.

The American Lung Association in Maryland will continue to educate lawmakers on the ongoing fight against tobacco. Our goal is to build champions within the legislature and grassroots advocates to advance our goals which include most notably to protect the increased funding for tobacco prevention and cessation, restore local control and close loopholes in the Clean Indoor Air Act.