LANSING, MICH. – “As the 2026 legislative session gets underway, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) urges legislators to prioritize easing the burden of cancer in Michigan.
The Following Statement can be attributed to Molly Medenblik, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network government relations director:
“It is past time for lawmakers to take meaningful action to reduce the burden of cancer on Michiganders, and that means taking on Big Tobacco.
In Michigan:
• 13.6% of adults smoke cigarettes.
• 16.5% of high school students use tobacco products, including 2.1% who smoke cigarettes, 15.4% who use e-cigarettes, 2.6% who use smokeless tobacco and 5.1% who use cigars.
• 31.9% of cancer deaths are caused by smoking.
“If we want to reduce the burden of cancer in Michigan, we must reduce tobacco use by implementing proven policies. The most effective ways to reduce smoking and other tobacco use include increasing the tax on all tobacco products and taxing them at equitable rates, fully funding fact-based tobacco prevention and cessation programs, protecting everyone's right to breathe clean, smoke-free air and ensuring everyone has access to insurance for proven interventions to help them successfully quit using all tobacco products.
“States that have taken meaningful action are seeing the positive results and not just health-wise, but also financially. In 2025, Indiana passed a $ 2-per-pack cigarette tax increase, as well as tax increases on other tobacco products. These new taxes took effect in July, leading to:
• Cigarette consumption in Indiana dropped by nearly 40% during the first three months, according to the Indiana Department of Health.
• Enrollment in the agency’s smoking cessation program jumped almost 40% over that same period of time.
• The state collected $188 million in cigarette taxes from July through October. That’s almost three times the $68 million earned over that time period in 2024.
“Roughly, 68,730 Michiganders will hear the words, 'you have cancer' this year. State lawmakers have an opportunity to reduce that number by taking meaningful action on tobacco use.”