Anti-smoking money pilfered

Anti-smoking money pilfered

Dayton Daily News: In the past decade, Ohio has fumbled away a historic opportunity to attack the ills of smoking and get young people not to take up tobacco products.

The state had the money, thanks to a legal settlement between major tobacco companies and several states, which brought Ohio $10 billion.

But lawmakers mostly chose to spend it on other things or — most egregiously — to steal back money it had set aside to fight smoking.

Now the consequences are clear.

Today’s financial crisis has public health advocates warning that there probably won’t be money in the future for state-backed anti-tobacco programs, or even enforcement of Ohio’s ban on smoking in indoor public places.

At $1.25 a pack, Ohio’s cigarette tax is below neighboring states. Raising the tax 75 cents — making Ohio even with Michigan — would bring in an estimated half-billion dollars in new tax revenue each year.

Even more money could be raised if the tax were extended to new tobacco mints that allegedly are aimed at adults, but that are more than likely to appeal to kids.

A new tax can get Ohio back on the right path after a decade of squandered opportunity.