CASPER, Wyo. — The American Lung Association gave Wyoming a slew of bad grades for policies on tobacco use.
According to a release issued early Wednesday, Wyoming received four “F” grades out of a possible five in the annual “State of Tobacco Control” report.
“Tobacco use is the leading cause of death and disease in Wyoming and across the country and takes the lives of 800 state residents each year. We know that the tobacco industry will do everything they can to grow their profits and addict more people to their deadly products. So, we must redouble our efforts to prevent and reduce tobacco use,” said Nick Torres, advocacy director for the American Lung Association in Wyoming, in the release.
“This year, we are highlighting the need for lawmakers to increase taxes on tobacco products and invest those funds into prevention, cessation, and other critical health programs. One of the most effective ways to reduce tobacco use, not only among low-income individuals but also for youth, is to significantly increase the tax on all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Multiple studies have shown that every 10% increase in the price of cigarettes reduces consumption by about 4% among adults and about 7% among youth. It has been 20 years since Wyoming last raised the tax on cigarettes — lawmakers would need to increase the tax by $1.33 per pack just to reach the current national average.”
The “State of Tobacco Control” report grades states and the District of Columbia in five areas that have been proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use and save lives. In the 2024 report, Wyoming received the following grades:
- Funding for State Tobacco Prevention Programs – Grade F
- Strength of Smokefree Workplace Laws – Grade F
- Level of State Tobacco Taxes – Grade F
- Coverage and Access to Services to Quit Tobacco – Grade C
- Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products – Grade F
The report also criticized the Biden administration’s failure to finalize rules to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, as well as the FDA’s overdue review of all applications for e-cigarette products, including flavors that are popular among youth, according to the release.
The 2024 “State of Tobacco Control” report grades the federal government in five areas:
- Federal Government Regulation of Tobacco Products – Grade C
- Federal Coverage of Quit Smoking Treatments – Grade D
- Level of Federal Tobacco Taxes – Grade F
- Federal Mass Media Campaigns to Prevent and Reduce Tobacco Use – Grade A
- Federal Minimum Age of Sale for Tobacco Products to 21 – Incomplete
“The Lung Association calls on the White House to urgently finalize rules to end the sales of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars in the U.S. to save lives now,” they said. “Send an email to President Biden at Lung.org/Stop-Menthol to insist these rules be finalized urgently. To learn more about this year’s “State of Tobacco Control” grades and take action, visit Lung.org/sotc.”
