Missouri

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 $2.4 million a year for tobacco prevention and cessation, which includes both state and federal funds. This is 3.2% 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 0.9% of the estimated $253 million in tobacco-generated revenue the state collects each year from settlement payments and tobacco taxes.

Recent Developments: Missouri is spending just $1.2 million in state funds on tobacco prevention for FY2010. This is a decrease from the $1.7 million allocated to tobacco prevention in FY2009. Current funding is not nearly enough to pursue a comprehensive prevention and cessation program. 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's cigarette tax remains at 17 cents per pack which is significantly lower than the $1.34 per pack average across the United States. Missouri remains among the bottom states in funding tobacco prevention and cessation programs.

For FY2010, Missouri is scheduled to spend $2.4 million in state and federal funds for tobacco prevention programs.