Great American Smokeout Today
Written by Andrew-Rossi on November 16, 2017
For anyone who has ever smoked cigarettes and tried to quit, they know how hard it can be.
But the American Cancer Society wants to make it easier by showing a surge of support one day a year – and that day is today. November 16th marks the American Cancer Society’s 42nd annual Great American Smokeout.
Cancer advocates across Wyoming are marking the day by urging the Legislature to pass a $1 tobacco tax increase in 2018. According to Cancer Society estimates, a $1 tobacco tax increase would prevent 2,400 Wyoming kids from using tobacco, help 2,800 current smokers quit and save 1,400 Wyoming lives from premature, tobacco-related deaths. American Cancer Society reports say that every state that has raised its tobacco tax by at least $1 has seen a sharp decrease in the number of cigarette packs sold.
Additionally, the $1 price increase of tobacco products would generate roughly $22 million in new revenue at a time when the state faces budget challenges.
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in Wyoming and the nation, contributing to roughly 30 percent of all cancer deaths. Each year, 800 Wyoming residents die from smoking.