Tobacco Control

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Tobacco products are projected to kill one billion people worldwide this century. And the industry is showing no signs of slowing down, spending more than $9 billion on marketing each year. 

Despite the industry's deceptive and deadly practices, ACS CAN continues to have enormous success passing local, state and federal laws that prevent children from smoking, help adults quit and ensure the government uses its authority to regulate tobacco industry practices.

While our work has had an enormous impact on youth cigarette use - now at historic lows - the use of e-cigarettes among kids is skyrocketing.  This further reinforces the importance of continuing this lifesaving work.

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Protect our Children from Big Tobacco

The tobacco industry has preyed upon young people by marketing products that appeal to kids.

Latest Updates

July 13, 2026
Nevada

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) called on the Nevada State Legislature to raise the state tax on cigarettes and all other tobacco products during a meeting of the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Revenue, Wednesday. Advocates hope to introduce a bill during the 2027 legislative session

June 1, 2026
Arizona

Public health organizations across Arizona are raising concerns that HB 4001, which recently passed the Arizona Senate, leaves significant gaps in protecting kids from tobacco and nicotine products like e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) along with the American Heart Association, American Lung

May 13, 2026
Michigan

Cancer Advocates Gathered at the Capitol Today to Say Michigan Can and Must Do Better to Reduce the Burden of Cancer on Michiganders

May 7, 2026
Oregon

SALEM, Oregon -- In a significant public health victory, the Oregon Supreme Court today issued a unanimous decision affirming Washington County’s 2021 law that ended the sale of menthol cigarettes and all other flavored tobacco products. The high court confirmed the Washington County Ordinance (WCO 878) is not preempted by

Tobacco Control Resources

In March 2026, FDA released the “Flavored Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) Premarket Applications – Considerations Related to Youth Risk; Draft Guidance for Industry." Draft Guidance provides FDA's current thinking about the topic of the guidance. The undersigned public health, medical, civil righs and community organizations conclude that the Draft Guidance fails to recognize the well-established history of signficant variations in youth flavor preferences over time, often caused by regulatory decisions, and this fundamental flaw threatens to open the regulatory door to a wide array of FDA-authorized products that would appeal and be accessible to youth, without signficant countervailing health benefits to adults who smoke.

On April 15, 2026, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, and the Truth Initiative sent a letter to Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, in support of efforts to fully restore staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The letter uplifts that reinstating capacity at the Office of Smoking and Health (OSH) at CDC is essential to ensuring congressionally appropriated funds are used effectively and that states, Tribal organizations, and territories receive uninterrupted funding, as well as technical assistance, and data-driven guidance. The letter underscores that without a fully staffed OSH, evidence-based programs that prevent youth initiation, help people quit, and reduce tobacco-related disease and costs nationwide are at serious risk. 

American Academy of Pediatrics, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
oppose orders authorizing this claim because Swedish Match has failed to meet the statutory standard for the following reasons:
1. FDA’s past authorizations of a similar claim for General Snus should not determine whether the pending applications for ZYN nicotine pouches are granted because the
Tobacco Control Act requires product-specific analyses.
2. Significant differences between ZYN and General Snus – in use rates, relevant toxicology, flavors, and marketing – clearly warrant different consideration.
3. The applicant’s reliance on the “Swedish experience” is misleading and of limited relevance.
4. The applicant did not submit sufficient data on consumer perception or behavior change related to the proposed modified risk claim and this specific product.