U.S. State and Local Issues

Spending on Tobacco Prevention: Massachusetts

Last updated November 29, 2011

  FY2012 FY2011
State Rank 35 37
State Spending on Tobacco Prevention $4.2 million $4.5 million
% of CDC Recommended Spending
($90.0 million)		 4.6% 5.0%

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 allocates $4.2 million a year for tobacco prevention and cessation. This is 4.6% 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 0.5% of the estimated $832 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 Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program (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 $8.25 million to $12.75 million. However, in FY2010, the state legislature and Governor Deval Patrick (D) cut funding for the MTCP to $4.5 million. The FY2012 budget enacted by the legislature and Governor Patrick appropriated $4.2 million in tobacco control program funding, slightly less than the amount that was allocated in FY2011. In total, the MTCP has been cut by more than 65 percent since FY2008.

In addition, Massachusetts is receiving $2.3 million in federal funds dedicated to tobacco prevention and control:

  • $1.5 million from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a 12-month grant for the period beginning April 2011 (from annual appropriations).

  • $118,894 from the Prevention and Public Health Fund in the new health care reform law.

  • $646,275 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.