Tobacco Control

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Tobacco products are projected to kill one billion people worldwide this century. And the industry is showing no signs of slowing down, spending more than $9 billion on marketing each year. 

Despite the industry's deceptive and deadly practices, ACS CAN continues to have enormous success passing local, state and federal laws that prevent children from smoking, help adults quit and ensure the government uses its authority to regulate tobacco industry practices.

While our work has had an enormous impact on youth cigarette use - now at historic lows - the use of e-cigarettes among kids is skyrocketing.  This further reinforces the importance of continuing this lifesaving work.

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Protect our Children from Big Tobacco

The tobacco industry has preyed upon young people by marketing products that appeal to kids.

Latest Updates

October 17, 2024
National

New 2024 data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Youth Tobacco Survey found that more than 2 million youth or 8.1% reported using commercial tobacco products.

September 30, 2024
West Virginia

CHARLESTON, W. Va. —Today, the West Virginia legislature started a special session that won’t address tobacco use in the state, even though the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and other health organizations have been asking for funding for programs that prevent tobacco use and help those already addicted quit.

September 19, 2024
Minnesota

St. Paul, Minn. – Attorney General Keith Ellison received the National Distinguished Advocacy Award this week, the most prestigious award presented by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), in recognition of his significant contribution to protecting Minnesotans from the harms of commercial tobacco, the cause of roughly

September 19, 2024
Missouri

Washington, D.C., – Emily Kalmer was recognized as the country’s top government relations professional by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in honor of her exceptional work advocating for cancer-fighting public policies. ACS CAN, the advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, presents the award to

Tobacco Control Resources

In 1999, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against major tobacco manufacturers Philip Morris USA, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, Lorillard, and Altria to hold the industry accountable for more than 50 years of conspiring to defraud the public in violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Big Tobacco, an industry which has for decades knowingly addicted and endangered the lives of millions of Americans for their own profit, must now post the truth about their deadly products, including at the point-of-sale (POS) for approximately 220,000 tobacco retailers.

The tobacco industry has a history of using litigation to avoid and delay laws and regulations enacted to safeguard the public. ACS CAN, with our tobacco control partners, has also relied on the courts to hold Big Tobacco accountable and to ensure the federal government is effectively implementing the Tobacco Control Act.

Implementation of graphic warnings in the U.S. has been thwarted by tobacco industry legal challenges. The American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), along with our partners, have fought back in the judicial system, using litigation to both compel the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue graphic warning regulations and help the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) defend the regulations finalized by FDA.