Improving Health Through the Power of Law
Improving Health Through the Power of Law
» The Verdict Is In presents highlights from the landmark opinion
August 26, 2008
Study shows California’s state tobacco program saved public $86 billion in health care costs
In a study published in the August 25 issue of Public Library of Science: Medicine, University of California San Francisco researchers evaluated health care savings that occurred as a result of California's state tobacco program between 1989 and 2004. They found that the program saved $86 billion – in 2004 dollars – while only costing the state $1.8 billion to fund the program, resulting in a 50-to-1 return on investment. The savings were due to the fact that the program prevented 3.6 billion packs of cigarettes from being smoked over the 15-year period. Read more about the study. Read the journal article.
On October 23, 2007, the Tobacco Control Legal Consortium held an interactive public health law symposium entitled “Going Too Far? Exploring the Limits of Smoking Regulation” at William Mitchell College of Law, in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Tobacco Control Legal Consortium symposium proceedings were published in William Mitchell Law Review Vol. 34:4 (2008).
» Read the symposium proceedings.
The Tobacco Control Legal Consortium has filed an amicus brief in a significant U.S. Supreme Court case that could determine if consumers can sue tobacco companies under state law for false advertising of “light” cigarettes.
» Read more about this amicus brief.
On Thursday, May 8, the Tobacco Law Center, in conjunction with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, hosted a reception at the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest in Minnetonka to commemorate the ten year anniversary of the historic Minnesota Tobacco Settlement. Former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop has called the settlement “one of the most significant public health achievements of the second half of the 20th century.” The reception capped off Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Prevention Minnesota Conference, a conference focusing on Blue Cross’ three health target areas: tobacco control, healthy eating and physical activity.
Doug D. Blanke, Director of the Tobacco Law Center, introduced the key participants in the original litigation who were attending the event: Andrew P. Czajkowski, former chief executive officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota; Michael V. Ciresi, partner with Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi; Hubert H. “Skip” Humphrey III, former attorney general for the state of Minnesota; and Kenneth J. Fitzpatrick, presiding Ramsey County judge for the trial. The participants shared a few memories of the trial and spoke briefly on the settlement’s legacy, and each litigant received a plaque memorializing his involvement in the lawsuit.
» View photos of the reception on Flickr
Ten years ago, Minnesota reached an historic settlement with the tobacco industry. The landmark agreement opened the tobacco industry’s secret document vaults, exposing fifty years of deception. It created the first ban on cigarette marketing aimed at children. It brought down tobacco billboards and imposed the first bans on tobacco-branded merchandise and secret payments for using cigarettes in movies. It funded support for Minnesota smokers who want to quit. And it required the tobacco industry to pay the state of Minnesota $6.1 billion.
The Tobacco Law Center at William Mitchell College of Law played an instrumental role as a legal resource during the drafting and debate of Minnesota’s new statewide smoke-free law. The Freedom to Breathe legislation eliminates smoking in all indoor public places and indoor places of employment, including bars and restaurants.
» William Mitchell College of Law profiles the Tobacco Law Center
» Freedom to Breathe PDF, 45 Kb
A summary of the Freedom to Breathe Provisions in the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act
A fact sheet from the Minnesota Department of Health
The Tobacco Law Center works to improve tobacco control laws and policies at local, national, and international levels. Through research, policy development, and analysis, technical assistance and consulting, the center helps policymakers, nonprofit organizations, advocates, and health professionals address tobacco-related legal issues.