Celebrating the right to breathe clean air
Editor
Jan 2, 2013
Revelers in California and Illinois had an extra reason to celebrate this New Year’s Day: The 15th and 5th anniversaries of their states’ smoke-free laws.
California in 1994 became the first state to enact a strong, statewide smoke-free law. The law was fully implemented on January 1, 1998, making California the first state to require that all restaurants and bars be smoke-free.
Continue reading California, Illinois Mark Smoke-Free Anniversaries
posted January 02, 2013
Industry's shameful tactics on full display for World No Tobacco Day
Editor
May 31, 2012
Today is World No Tobacco Day, and the tobacco industry is doing exactly what the World Health Organization warns is a typical industry bullying tactic that must be stopped: Tobacco companies are spending more than $45 million to defeat a California ballot initiative that would raise the cigarette tax by $1 to reduce smoking, as well as fund cancer research and tobacco prevention programs.
Continue reading Big Tobacco Spends $45 Million to Battle California Tobacco Tax Initiative
posted May 31, 2012
Editorials back ballot measure to increase cigarette tax, fund tobacco prevention and cancer research
Editor
Apr 30, 2012
California’s newspapers aren’t fooled by tobacco industry lies about Proposition 29 – and they’re urging voters to beat back the scare tactics and support the measure to increase cigarette taxes, fund tobacco prevention programs and boost cancer research to save lives.
Continue reading California Newspapers: Don’t Believe Big Tobacco’s Lies
posted April 30, 2012
Big bucks will spread big lies about cigarette tax initiative
Editor
Mar 6, 2012
Big tobacco companies already have coughed up nearly $15 million to try to kill a California ballot initiative that would boost the state's cigarette tax by $1 to fund cancer research and tobacco-prevention programs.
"Shame on them," says Dr. Richard Gray, president of the American Heart Association Western States Affiliate. "But we aren’t surprised — they will always put their profits before the health of millions of Californians."
Continue reading Big Tobacco Bankrolls Fight Against California Measure to Reduce Smoking, Save Lives
posted March 06, 2012
Golden State voters have golden opportunity to save lives
Editor
Feb 2, 2012
Ready to take on Big Tobacco, California health advocates have launched a blockbuster campaign for a ballot measure to raise the state’s cigarette tax by $1 a pack and use the money to fund programs to prevent tobacco use and boost cancer research.
The effort to pass Proposition 29, a ballot initiative to be put to voters in June, brought public officials, health advocates, cancer survivors, students – and mattresses bearing the slogan “Let’s See Who’s In Bed with Big Tobacco” – to kickoff events in cities and towns all up and down the Golden State.
Continue reading Blockbuster Kick-Off in California Campaign for Cigarette Tax to Fund Prevention and Research
posted February 02, 2012
University of California system, Florida campuses join coast-to-coast trend
Editor
Jan 12, 2012
All ten campuses of the University of California will be completely tobacco-free within the next two years, while on the other coast Nova Southeastern University is joining the University of Florida and other Sunshine State campuses in going smoke-free.
University of California President Mark G. Yudof this week directed chancellors to implement tobacco-free policies on their campuses within the next 24 months. Key elements include prohibiting all tobacco use in both indoor and outdoor spaces and stopping the sale and advertising of tobacco products in University-owned and occupied buildings.
Continue reading Smoke-Free Campuses from Sea to Shining Sea
posted January 12, 2012
Golden State's historic gains against tobacco set model for the nation
Editor
Aug 9, 2011
California recently reported that its aggressive tobacco control programs had reduced adult smoking to just 11.9 percent in 2010 — an historic low for the state.
That got us thinking: What would happen if the United States as a whole reduced smoking among adults from the current national rate of 20.6 percent to 11.9 percent?
Continue reading U.S. Can Save 5.4 Million Lives by Following California’s Lead
posted August 09, 2011
Long commitment to tobacco prevention, smoke-free policies bring dramatic decline
Editor
Jul 18, 2011
It's not just the sunny climate that gives the Golden State its healthy glow: The rate of smoking among California adults has just hit a record low, dropping to 11.9 percent.
California now joins Utah as one of two states in the nation to achieve the federal Healthy People 2020 target of reducing the prevalence of adult smoking to 12 percent. Nationally, the adult smoking rate is 20.6 percent, a level that's remained essentially unchanged since 2004.
Continue reading California Strikes Gold with Lowest-Ever Smoking Rate
posted July 18, 2011
Abby Michaelsen works to pass California Cancer Research Act
Abby Michaelsen, National Youth Advocate of the Year
May 18, 2011
It is an immense honor to be the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids’ National Youth Advocate of the Year! I am so excited to be in Washington to receive this award and to meet my fellow advocates who have been working tirelessly in their own communities on their tobacco prevention campaigns.
At home, I’m focused on helping my local American Heart Association with our campaign for the California Cancer Research Act. This act would increase the state’s tobacco tax by $1, with all the new funds going towards tobacco prevention and cessation programs and cancer research. Voters will decide the issue in the next statewide election, though the exact date of that is still uncertain.
Continue reading Meet Our National Youth Advocate of the Year
posted May 18, 2011
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