The state of tobacco

The American Lung Association’s annual State of Tobacco Control report concluded that Northern California health officials must renew tobacco-control efforts.

The report tracks progress in four categories of tobacco-control policies—tobacco control and prevention spending, smoke-free air, cigarette tax, and cessation coverage—at federal and state levels, handing out grades for specific counties and cities, according to an American Lung Association press release. Bolstered by a strong tobacco-retailer license, Oroville earned a C, the highest grade of any city in the area, while Chico was given a D.

California as a whole received an A for its smoke-free-air policies, a D for its low cigarette tax, an F for failing to sufficiently fund prevention and control programs, and an F for a lack of smoking cessation and treatment services.