Summary: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that Missouri spend $73.2 million a year to have an effective, comprehensive tobacco prevention program.  Missouri currently receives $2.7 million a year for tobacco prevention and cessation, which includes both state and federal funds.  This is 3.7% of the CDC's recommendation and ranks Missouri 49th among the states in the funding of tobacco prevention programs.  Missouri's spending on tobacco prevention amounts to 1.0% of the estimated $260 million in tobacco-generated revenue the state collects each year from settlement payments and tobacco taxes.

Recent Developments: Missouri is spending just $1.7 million in state funds on tobacco prevention for FY2009. While this is an increase from the $200,000 in state funding that was allocated in FY2008, Missouri still falls well short of providing significant investment in the state's tobacco prevention and cessation program.  Current funding is not nearly enough to pursue a comprehensive prevention and cessation program.  Additionally, the small funding increase was from one-time funds and will not automatically be considered for renewal in the next state budget.  From FY2003 through FY2007, the Legislature dedicated no funding for tobacco prevention. In 2006, Missouri voters narrowly rejected a ballot initiative to increase the state cigarette tax by 80 cents a pack and double the tax on other tobacco products. The initiative would have given Missouri one of the best-funded prevention programs in the country. Instead, Missouri remains among the bottom states in funding tobacco prevention and cessation programs.