New Report Reveals Colorado Must Focus on Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products to Reduce Death and Disease from Tobacco Use

A new report from the American Lung Association urges Colorado lawmakers to focus on ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, to reduce the overwhelming human and financial burden of tobacco use. The 2025 “State of Tobacco Control” report evaluates state and federal policies on actions taken to eliminate tobacco use and recommends proven-effective tobacco control laws and policies to save lives.

The “State of Tobacco Control” report grades states and the District of Columbia in five areas that have been proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use and save lives. In the 2025 report, Colorado received the following grades:

1. Funding for State Tobacco Prevention Programs – Grade B
2. Strength of Smokefree Workplace Laws – Grade B
3. Level of State Tobacco Taxes – Grade C
4. Coverage and Access to Services to Quit Tobacco – Grade A
5. Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products – Grade F

“In addition to grading Colorado’s tobacco control policies, this year’s ‘State of Tobacco Control’ report examines the tobacco industry’s increasingly aggressive actions to addict a new generation to tobacco and hinder proven public policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use. Here in Colorado, tobacco industry lobbyists are working very actively at both the state and local levels to stop or weaken proven tobacco control policies. The tobacco industry is also introducing new products that appeal to youth like e-cigarettes that mimic smartphones, kid-friendly flavors and flavored nicotine pouches that are heavily marketed by social media influencers,” said Nick Torres, Director of Advocacy at the American Lung Association in Colorado. “In 2025, policymakers in Colorado must focus on ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products, especially menthol cigarettes, and continuing progress on  local tobacco retail licensure programs.”

Ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products, particularly menthol cigarettes, will reduce tobacco-caused disparities and save lives as the most recent Surgeon General’s report on tobacco released in November 2024 makes clear. Of the over 85% of kids who use flavored e-cigarettes, use flavored products. Menthol cigarettes continue to be the major cause of tobacco-related death and disease in Black communities, with over 80% of Black individuals who smoke using them. Ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, will not only reduce youth tobacco use, but will address health disparities.

Federal Grades Overview

The 2025 “State of Tobacco Control” report grades the federal government in five areas:

• Federal Government Regulation of Tobacco Products – Grade C
• Federal Coverage of Quit Smoking Treatments – Grade D
• Level of Federal Tobacco Taxes – Grade F
• Federal Mass Media Campaigns to Prevent and Reduce Tobacco Use – Grade: A
• Federal Minimum Age of Sale for Tobacco Products to 21 – Grade: A

The 2025 “State of Tobacco Control” report urges Congress to provide additional funding to the FDA so they can enforce against and remove all illegal e-cigarettes the tobacco industry has introduced to the market. To learn more about this year’s “State of Tobacco Control” grades and sign the petition, visit Lung.org/sotc.

Get involved and help the mission of the American Lung Association. The Fight for Air Climb in Denver is coming up on April 12th. Learn more at FightForAirClimb.org/Denver.

State grades in “State of Tobacco Control” reflect actions taken by elected officials and do not reflect on the hard work of state tobacco control programs or advocates.