A recent report from the American Lung Association urges New Jersey lawmakers to amend the state's smokefree law to include casinos, increase cigarette taxes, allocate more funding for tobacco control, and ban flavored tobacco products. The 2025 "State of Tobacco Control" report evaluates policies at both state and federal levels aimed at eliminating tobacco use and suggests effective measures to save lives.
The report assigns grades to states and the District of Columbia based on five proven areas that prevent and reduce tobacco use. Michael Seilback, AVP Nationwide Advocacy at the American Lung Association, highlighted concerns over aggressive actions by the tobacco industry in New Jersey. "Here in New Jersey, we are seeing tobacco industry lobbyists working to prevent smokefree casinos from becoming a reality," he stated.
Seilback further emphasized that policymakers should focus on amending laws to include casinos in smokefree regulations, increasing taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products, funding state tobacco control efforts, and banning all flavored tobacco products. He noted the U.S. Surgeon General's findings that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke or emissions from e-cigarettes.
The 2025 report also calls on Congress to increase funding for the FDA to enforce actions against illegal e-cigarettes introduced by the tobacco industry. To learn more about this year's grades or sign a petition, visit Lung.org/sotc.
In addition, individuals can participate in events such as the Fight For Air Climb New Jersey scheduled for April 27, 2025, at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison.
