A new report card on Iowa’s smoking policies gives the state an abysmal grade point average. In the five categories, Iowa earned one B, one D, and three F’s. Kristina Hamilton, director of advocacy at the American Lung Association in Iowa, says one of the state’s failing grades comes under the category of state cigarette taxes, which she says are far too low.
The association also wants to see electronic cigarettes taxed at the same rate as other tobacco products. Hamilton says they plan to focus efforts on urging Iowa lawmakers to establish a tax on e-cigarettes during this legislative session, as she says those taxes would have a dual impact.
Iowa earned another F for the amount of money the state spends on smoking prevention and cessation programs.
Only about four-million dollars out of that 200-million-plus went into state programs that help Iowa adults overcome tobacco addiction and to prevent youth from starting. The lion’s share, she says, went into the state’s general fund. Iowa’s third F came for not ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products, which includes flavored cigarettes, cigars and vape products. The 2025 State of Tobacco Control report gives Iowa a D in the category of coverage and access to services to quit tobacco, and a B for strength of smoke-free workplace laws. Iowa passed the Smoke-free Air Act in 2008, but it doesn’t extend to casinos, so Hamilton says the grade isn’t an A. New figures show fewer Iowans are lighting up.
See the full report at www.lung.org/.