U.S. State and Local Issues

Spending on Tobacco Prevention: Maine

Last updated December 04, 2012

  FY2013 FY2012
State Rank 9 6
State Spending on Tobacco Prevention $7.5 million $9.4 million
% of CDC Recommended Spending
($18.5 million)		 40.7% 50.6%

Summary: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that Maine spend $18.5 million a year to have an effective, comprehensive tobacco prevention program.  Maine currently allocates $7.5 million a year for tobacco prevention and cessation.  This is 40.7% of the CDC’s recommendation and ranks Maine 9th among the states in the funding of tobacco prevention programs.  Maine’s spending on tobacco prevention amounts to 3.8% of the estimated $196 million in tobacco-generated revenue the state collects each year from settlement payments and tobacco taxes.

Background and Recent Developments: In 1997, Maine increased its cigarette tax and used a portion of those funds to establish a comprehensive tobacco prevention and control program known as the Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine. Maine’s program is no longer funded through cigarette tax revenue. Now the state’s program, the Fund for a Healthy Maine, is funded only by proceeds from the tobacco settlement. 

The FY2013 budget enacted by the Legislature and Governor Paul LePage (R) included $7.5 million for the tobacco program, twenty percent less than the state spent on tobacco-specific work in FY2012. Also, in FY2013, the state will spend about $35,905 to cover tobacco cessation treatment for Medicaid enrollees.

In addition, Maine is receiving $1.8 million in federal funds dedicated to tobacco prevention and control:

  • $951,046 from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a 12-month grant for the period beginning April 2012 (from annual appropriations).

  • $100,751 from the Prevention and Public Health Fund in the new health care reform law for the period beginning August 1, 2012. 

  • $710,755 from the Food and Drug Administration for enforcement of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, including the provision regarding tobacco sales to minors.