Volunteer advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) commend Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado General Assembly for including substantial funding for tobacco control and cancer screening programs in the 2025-2026 fiscal year appropriations bill, signed into law Tuesday during a ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion.
The bill includes full funding for the state’s tobacco prevention and cessation grant programs, as well as the breast and cervical cancer screening program which currently benefits Coloradans across the state and has helped aid in the fight against cancer. This funding is derived from the proceeds of the 2004 Amendment 35 tobacco tax. Additional revenue for tobacco control programs are the result of the 2020 Proposition EE tobacco tax increase.
For 20 years and counting significant progress in the fight against cancer has been made because of Amendment 35. First approved by Colorado voters in 2004 and effective in January 2005, the amendment allowed for increased taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products. Since then, funds collected from the tax have been designated by constitutional amendment to programs to prevent teens from starting to use tobacco and help those who are addicted quit.
According to data from Tobacco Free Colorado, the percentage of youth who use e-cigarettes decreased from 26% to 9% between 2019 and 2023.
Approximately 86% of lung cancers in the United States are caused by smoking, according to American Cancer Society researchers. Over 24% of cancer deaths in Colorado can be attributed to smoking.
“The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and its volunteers deeply appreciate the thoughtful and deliberate consideration the Governor, the Joint Budget Committee, and the entire Gerneral Assembly afforded these vital tobacco prevention and cancer early detection programs,” said R.J. Ours, ACS CAN Colorado Government Relations Director. “We know 2025 was an extremely challenging appropriations year for our state and we thank our elected officials for respecting the wishes of the voters in utilizing these tobacco tax proceeds.”
With Tuesday’s bill signing, Gov. Polis and legislators also designated money to fund health services like the Women’s Wellness Connection which provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings for women who qualify. The program currently serves women at more than 100 clinics across the state. Action taken by the governor and General Assembly demonstrate a continued commitment to ending the cancer burden as we know it for Coloradans. More than 29,000 Colorado residents will be newly diagnosed with cancer in 2025. More than 8,600 residents are expected to die from the disease.