INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana got poor grades on tobacco health from the American Lung Association this year.

The organization released its 2018 State of Tobacco Control report Wednesday, giving Indiana an “F” in three of five categories, plus one “D” and one “C.” That’s actually up from last year when we got four “F” grades and one “D.”

No state received all A’s.

We were given credit – along with North Carolina and Tennessee – for increasing funding for state prevention programs by at least $1 million.

The American Lung Association’s top three recommendations for Indiana were to:

1. Raise the cigarette excise tax by at least a $1.50 per pack
2. Pass a comprehensive smokefree air law that covers bars, taverns and casinos; and
3. Raise the legal age to sell tobacco products from 18 to 21.

A bill being heard at the Statehouse Monday would address two of those: raise the legal smoking age from 18 to 21 and raise the cigarette tax by $2 per pack. Half of the proceeds would go to tobacco prevention and half for the medical residency education fund. The proposal is backed by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, which says smoking causes $3 billion in annual heath care costs across the state.

Some legislative leaders are reportedly leery of the proposal, though. Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma said in November he doesn’t like the idea of telling military members they can be sent to Iraq but that they can’t buy cigarettes.

Proposals for a $1 per-pack hike in Indiana’s cigarette tax appears have failed the last two years in the Legislature.

Source: WTHR