Summary: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that Massachusetts spend $90.0 million a year to have an effective, comprehensive tobacco prevention program.  Massachusetts currently receives $13.5 million a year for tobacco prevention and cessation, which includes both state and federal funds.  This is 15.0% of the CDC's recommendation and ranks Massachusetts 35th among the states in the funding of tobacco prevention programs.  Massachusetts's spending on tobacco prevention amounts to 1.6% of the estimated $847 million in tobacco-generated revenue the state collects each year from settlement payments and tobacco taxes.

Recent Developments: Massachusetts launched its program in 1993 with funding from a voter-approved cigarette tax of 25 cents a pack. In December 1999, the Legislature voted to supplement the MTCP cigarette tax funding with tobacco settlement money. By 2002-2003, fiscal emergencies and other factors led to funding cuts that nearly eliminated the program.  Since then, the legislature has increased funding, most notably in FY2008, when funding was increased from $4 million to $12.75 million.  This amount represents the largest funding increase the program has seen in several years.

Combined with funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, total spending on tobacco prevention and cessation for FY2009 will be $13.5 million, less than was spent in FY2008.  In FY2009, Governor Deval Patrick (D) cut the tobacco control program by 4 percent, or $525,000.  However, the tobacco control program fared much better than other state programs, many of which suffered cuts of 7 percent or more.