Colorado is falling short supporting policies and passing legislation to prevent and reduce suffering and death from cancer. According to the latest edition of How Do You Measure Up?: A Progress Report on State Legislative Activity to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality, Colorado measured up to recommendations in only 3 of the 10 issue areas ranked. The report was released by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

We’ve made tremendous progress in the way we diagnose and treat cancer across the country. But to leverage this progress, Colorado legislators must take advantage of the opportunities to pass evidence-based laws and policies that are proven to save lives and money.

In Colorado alone in 2016, 24,730 people will be diagnosed with cancer and 7,760 will die from it. We can’t wait to take action when the stakes are that high. This report outlines ways lawmakers can make a difference by emphasizing cancer prevention, curbing tobacco use and prioritizing quality of life for patients and their families.”

How Do You Measure Up? rates states in 10 specific areas of public policy that can help fight cancer. A color-coded system classifies how well a state is doing in each issue. Green shows that a state has adopted evidence-based policies and best practices; yellow indicates moderate movement toward the benchmark and red shows where states are falling short. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in Colorado and one area where strides could be made to reduce cancer.

Governor John Hickenlooper signed an increase in tax-funded tobacco prevention and cessation programs for the 2016-17 fiscal year that brought Colorado out of the “red” ranking in previous years.  There’s additional opportunity to improve Colorado’s cancer fight by raising the tobacco tax rate.  ACS CAN is a member of the Campaign for A Healthy Colorado that has turned in signatures for a November ballot initiative to raise the cigarette tax $1.75 per pack, with a corresponding 22 percent increase on other tobacco products.

If passed, the tax increase would lead to $315 million in new revenue. If passed, the constitutional amendment raising the tax would result in the largest investment in state history into cutting-edge tobacco-related medical research as well as expansion of tobacco education, prevention and cessation programs for adults and children.

The new tax would decrease youth smoking rates an estimated 19.6 percent, keeping some 34,800 kids from becoming smokers and preventing about 20,800 premature deaths. Currently, more than 5,000 Coloradans die annually from tobacco-related diseases. The economic toll is enormous, with an estimated health care cost impact of about $707 annually per household.

At 84 cents per pack, Colorado’s tobacco tax is one of the lowest in the country.  Voters can improve the lives of all Coloradans by supporting this tax. For more information, go to www.HealthyCo2016.com.