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.

Take Action

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Urge your lawmakers to help protect young people from Big Tobacco.

Tobacco companies spend millions on marketing every year. Yet the Office on Smoking and Health (OSH), which helps educate young people about the harms of tobacco, has been severely weakened. OSH programs are needed now to push back against Big Tobacco and the reglamorization of smoking.

Latest Updates

September 21, 2026
National

With more than 2 million Americans expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) today announced the launch of a digital and print advertising campaign across 17 states as part of ACS CAN’s Cancer Votes program to ensure cancer remains a national priority in the 2026 midterm elections.

September 14, 2026
National

More than 750 cancer patients, survivors and advocates from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Guam and Puerto Rico, will be on Capitol Hill this week.

August 20, 2026
Oregon

OREGON CITY, ORE. – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) applauds Oregon City Mayor Denyse McGriff for calling on fellow mayors and city councils across Clackamas County to join her in asking for the Board of County Commissioners to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and all

August 20, 2026
Michigan

Michigan cancer survivors and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) volunteers gathered with candidate Mike Rogers to discuss cancer in Michigan and policies that can reduce the cancer burden for everyone.

Tobacco Control Resources

In 1999, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against major tobacco manufacturers Philip Morris USA, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, Lorillard, and Altria to hold the industry accountable for more than 50 years of conspiring to defraud the public in violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Big Tobacco, an industry which has for decades knowingly addicted and endangered the lives of millions of Americans for their own profit, must now post the truth about their deadly products, including at the point-of-sale (POS) for approximately 220,000 tobacco retailers.

The tobacco industry has a history of using litigation to avoid and delay laws and regulations enacted to safeguard the public. ACS CAN, with our tobacco control partners, has also relied on the courts to hold Big Tobacco accountable and to ensure the federal government is effectively implementing the Tobacco Control Act.

Big tobacco has a history of prioritizing corporate profits over people and communities burdened by tobacco-related illness and death. For decades, the tobacco industry has lied to specific communities and the public at large saying their products are not addictive, harmful or deadly. Tobacco manufacturers continue to create and flood the market with newly designed products they market as being less harmful and alternatives to quitting – a tactic that is not new.

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