How many States entered into a Master Settlement Agreement with tobacco companies?
[15] On November 23, 1998, the Attorneys General of the remaining 46 states, as well as of the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, entered into the Master Settlement Agreement with the four largest manufacturers of cigarettes in the United States.
What was the settlement with the tobacco industry?
Tobacco Settlement Led by Mississippi Attorney General Mike Moore, attorneys general from a number of states announced a settlement reached with the tobacco industry. The settlement created a trust fund to pay for medical costs resulting from tobacco addiction and ended the suits by several states and individuals for payment of such medical costs.
How much do States spend on tobacco control?
Right now, though, the states only use a very small amount of that money to prevent and control tobacco use. In fiscal year 2020, states will collect $27.2 billion from tobacco taxes and settlements in court, but will only spend $740 million in the same year.
What states are tobacco companies in the US?
The states are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. At the time the Master Settlement Agreement became effective, the OPMs collectively controlled approximately 97% of the domestic market for cigarettes.

What is the tobacco settlement?
StateAG.org’s The Tobacco Settlement commemorates the historic fight against big tobacco and the men and women who led these efforts on behalf of the states.
What was the purpose of the settlement of the tobacco addiction lawsuit?
The settlement created a trust fund to pay for medical costs resulting from tobacco addiction and ended the suits by several states and individuals for payment of such medical costs. The settlement also prohibited class action law suits against tobacco companies in the future.
Which state is the fifth to join the tobacco litigation?
Massachusetts became the fifth state to join the litigation. In December 1998, the National Association of Attorneys General awarded Tom the NAAG President's Distinguished Service Award for his work nationally on the state tobacco litigation and settlements.
How many tobacco companies have settled under the MSA?
Eventually, more than 45 tobacco companies settled with the Settling States under the MSA. Although Florida, Minnesota, Mississippi, and Texas are not signatories to the MSA, they have their own individual tobacco settlements, which occurred prior to the MSA.
What is the prohibition on tobacco companies?
Prohibiting tobacco companies from taking any action to target youth in the advertising, promotion or marketing of tobacco products.
What is the NAAG Center for Tobacco and Public Health?
The NAAG Center for Tobacco and Public Health works with the Settling States of the MSA to preserve and enforce the MSA’s monetary and public-health mandates, including: Representing, advising, and supporting the Settling States in MSA-related legal matters , including litigation and arbitrations.
What law gave the FDA the power to regulate tobacco products?
In 2009, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act gave the FDA the power to regulate tobacco products. State attorneys general have been active participants in helping the FDA shape its regulatory authority.
How does the MSA affect smoking?
The MSA continues to have a profound effect on smoking in America, particularly among youth. Between 1998 and 2019 , U.S. cigarette consumption dropped by more than 50%. During that same time period, regular smoking by high schoolers dropped from its near peak of 36.4% in 1997 to a low 6.0% in 2019. As advocates for the public interest, state attorneys general are actively and successfully continuing to enforce the provisions of the MSA to reduce tobacco use and protect consumers.
Do tobacco companies have to pay settlements?
Under the MSA, tobacco manufacturers are obligated to make annual payments to the Settling States in perpetuity, so long as cigarettes are sold in the United States by companies that have settled with the States. The NAAG Center for Tobacco and Public Health makes certain such payments are made.
How many people die from smoking in the US each year?
Each year, nearly half a million Americans die prematurely of smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke. Another 16 million live with a serious illness caused by smoking. Each year, the United States spends more than $225 billion on medical care to treat smoking-related disease in adults. Fast Facts and Fact Sheets.
Who publishes tobacco related data?
Concise tobacco-related data published by the CDC.
How many people die from tobacco in the world?
Worldwide, tobacco use causes more than 7 million deaths per year. 2 If the pattern of smoking all over the globe doesn’t change, more than 8 million people a year will die from diseases related to tobacco use by 2030. 3
What are the health problems that smoking causes?
Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smoking also increases risk for tuberculosis, certain eye diseases, and problems of the immune system, including rheumatoid arthritis. Smoking is a known cause of erectile ...
How early do smokers die?
On average, smokers die 10 years earlier than nonsmokers. 4
Do smokers want to quit smoking?
Many adult cigarette smokers want to quit smoking.
