U.S. State and Local Issues

Spending on Tobacco Prevention: Washington

Last updated December 05, 2012

Summary: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that Washington spend $67.3 million a year to have an effective, comprehensive tobacco prevention program.  Washington currently allocates $2.5 million a year for tobacco prevention and cessation.  This is 3.7% of the CDC’s recommendation and ranks Washington 37th among the states in the funding of tobacco prevention programs.  Washington’s spending on tobacco prevention amounts to 0.4% of the estimated $571 million in tobacco-generated revenue the state collects each year from settlement payments and tobacco taxes.

Background and Recent Developments: Historically, Washington funded tobacco prevention largely through the Tobacco Prevention and Control Account, which included a portion of the revenue raised by a 2001 voter-approved 60 cent per pack cigarette tax increase. The ballot initiative dedicated the new revenue to the state’s Basic Health Plan, to tobacco prevention and cessation, and other existing programs that were already funded with tobacco tax revenue. The initiative required the state to spend at least $26.24 million a year on tobacco prevention and cessation beginning July 1, 2002.  In the 2009 legislative session, the Washington State Legislature changed this law and diverted tobacco tax money to the general fund.  After June 30, 2011, the Tobacco Prevention and Control Account had no remaining funds to sustain the program.  In FY2012, the state spent only $750,000 on compliance checks and retailer education.  As a result of this dramatic funding cut, Washington will no longer fund anti-tobacco media campaigns or local tobacco prevention and cessation programs in schools, through local governments or community organizations.

In FY2013, the state will spend approximately $2.5 million on its prevention and cessation program, including $1.7 million on state quitline operations and $750,000 on compliance checks and retailer education. Also in FY2013, the state will spend about $2.4 million to cover tobacco cessation quitline treatment for Medicaid enrollees.

In addition, Washington is receiving $2.6 million in federal funds dedicated to tobacco prevention and control:

• $1.4 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).

• $409,256 from the Prevention and Public Health Fund in the new health care reform law for the period beginning August 1, 2012. 

• $748,767 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.