U.S. State and Local Issues

Spending on Tobacco Prevention: Minnesota

Last updated December 04, 2012

  FY2013 FY2012
State Rank 12 10
State Spending on Tobacco Prevention $19.6 million $19.5 million
% of CDC Recommended Spending
($58.4 million)		 33.6% 33.4%

Summary: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that Minnesota spend $58.4 million a year to have an effective, comprehensive tobacco prevention program.  Minnesota currently allocates $19.6 million a year for tobacco prevention and cessation.  This is 33.6% of the CDC’s recommendation and ranks Minnesota 12th among the states in the funding of tobacco prevention programs.  Minnesota’s spending on tobacco prevention amounts to 3.7% of the estimated $535 million in tobacco-generated revenue the state collects each year from settlement payments and tobacco taxes.

Background and Recent Developments: Minnesota will spend $19.6 million on tobacco prevention and cessation programs in FY2013, a slight increase from the previous year. This includes $3.2 million in state funds to the Minnesota Department of Public Health and $16.4 million approved by ClearWay Minnesota’s Board of Directors.  ClearWay Minnesota is an independent, non-profit organization created as a result of the 1998 settlement between the tobacco industry and both the State of Minnesota and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota.

In addition, Minnesota is receiving $1.9 million in federal funds dedicated to tobacco prevention and control:

  • $1.1 million from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a 12-month grant for the period beginning April 2012 (from annual appropriations).

  • $296,100 from the Prevention and Public Health Fund in the new health care reform law for the period beginning August 1, 2012. 

  • $557,604 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.