Sacramento – The California Medical Association supports the passage of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act that would allow the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to finally set standards for cigarettes and regulate chemicals. In 1963, CMA was the first among state medical societies to create policy to inform people about the harmful effects of cigarette smoking.

“California’s physicians have been outspoken on the ill effects of cigarettes for over 40 years,” said Dr. Dev GnanaDev, CMA president. “The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act is long overdue. What we feed our pets is more regulated than cigarettes are today. ”

CMA has been a tireless advocate on stronger reforms for the tobacco industry. In 1970, 1978 and 1980, the medical association supported ballot initiatives that would have banned smoking in many public places. In 1987, CMA took on its biggest tobacco-related challenge and won, with the passage of Proposition 99, which established a 25-cents-per-pack tax on cigarettes and a tax hike for other tobacco related products.

Joining with labor, the California Restaurant Association and health-related groups in 1993, the medical association worked to pass the Indoor Clean Air Act, a law banning smoking in California workplaces, including restaurants and even bars. The passage of this law struck a huge blow against the scourge of cigarettes and sparked a nationwide trend.

In recent years, the CMA has sought to increase the legal age for tobacco sales from 18 to 21 years of age and created policy to support prohibitions on the sale of tobacco products in any store that contains a pharmacy.

Smoking is a costly habit that often leads to illness and poor health. Decreasing addiction to cigarettes is one way people can fundamentally improve their health and reduce costs in the health care system. Healthy choices and prevention are key components of controlling costs, which is essential to making health care reform affordable. CMA is a strong advocate of health care reform.

“Under the Act, the FDA would be able to further restrict marketing which can reduce the appeal to youth,” Dr. GnanaDev continued. “The more we can keep tobacco out of the hands of children, the more likely it is they will grow up and kick the addiction to this drug.”

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The California Medical Association represents more than 35,000 physicians in all modes of practice and specialties. CMA is dedicated to the health of all patients in California.