Federal Tobacco Cuts Threaten Colorado's Prevention Gains, Report Says

Sweeping federal rollbacks are jeopardizing decades of tobacco prevention progress even as Colorado ranks among the nation's top states for prevention funding and quit-smoking support, the American Lung Association warned in its 24th annual "State of Tobacco Control" report released January 28.

The federal government eliminated the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Office on Smoking and Health in 2025 and cut staffing at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Tobacco Products. Nearly six-month funding delays threatened to shutter tobacco control and quitline programs nationwide.

"These unprecedented disruptions will embolden the tobacco industry to expand its predatory marketing and put more lives at risk," said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association. "With the federal government reversing long-established tobacco prevention efforts, states must now take the lead."

The U.S. earned D grades for federal regulation of tobacco products and federal coverage of quit-smoking treatments, an F for the level of federal tobacco taxes, and an incomplete on mass media campaigns in the 2026 report.

Tobacco kills more than 490,000 Americans annually, making it the nation's leading preventable cause of death. About 2.25 million middle and high school students still use e-cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Colorado is one of a few states funding tobacco control at or near CDC-recommended levels. In FY2026, Colorado allocated $44.8 million in tobacco-control funding—84.6% of the CDC's $52.9 million recommendation. Colorado collected $421.4 million in tobacco-related revenue in FY2026.

Colorado earned an A for tobacco program funding and an A for access to cessation services. The state also received a B for smokefree air protections and a C for tobacco taxes, with a current cigarette excise tax of $2.24 per pack. An additional tax of $3.80 per pack begins in 2026, rising to $4.00 by 2028.

Despite its strong funding grades, Colorado has a critical weakness: it hasn't regulated flavored tobacco products, earning an F. Colorado's high school tobacco use is 18.9%, with 3.1% reporting cigarette smoking. Middle school smoking stands at 1.5%. Nationally, close to 90% of youth who use e-cigarettes use flavored products.

Colorado's adult cigarette smoking rate is 10.2%, according to 2023 CDC data. Overall adult tobacco use—including smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes—stands at 18.6%. An estimated 5,070 Coloradans die annually from smoking-attributable causes, based on 2005-2009 baseline data.

"The administration has said it wants to reduce chronic disease in both children and adults," Wimmer said. "This goal cannot be achieved without funding and staffing to address the nation's leading cause of preventable death and disease: tobacco use. We call on Congress to restore these lifesaving investments."

The American Lung Association is urging state legislatures to advance strong, fact-based tobacco control policies. Learn more about this year's "State of Tobacco Control" grades and take action at lung.org/sotc.