Anti-smoking group continues to oppose constitutional amendment

Despite a proposed tweak to a constitutional amendment, the Protect Tobacco Free Florida coalition says it still opposes the underlying measure.

The proposal (P94), filed by Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) member and House Speaker pro tempore Jeanette Nuñez, originally would have redirected dollars from tobacco-prevention efforts to cancer research.

Nuñez on Wednesday filed an “amendment to the amendment” deleting the section about cancer research funding, however. That change would have to be adopted by the commission, which meets in Session beginning Monday in Tallahassee.

No matter, a coalition statement said.

“Despite this change, her proposal would still remove the requirement that one-third of Florida’s tobacco prevention funding be dedicated to countering Big Tobacco’s massive marketing efforts in the state,” it said. “Because the one-third provision is required to follow CDC best practice standards for tobacco prevention programs, the Protect Tobacco Free Florida coalition still opposes Proposal 94.

“The CDC’s best practice regarding marketing efforts is not arbitrary and is essential to the other parts of the Tobacco Free Florida program functioning at their peak. The cessation program that Commissioner Nuñez has praised, for example, would not be as successful if not for the marketing program that supports it.

“It’s also important to remember that tobacco companies still spend more than $558 million a year to market their deadly and addictive products in Florida, often in ways that appeal to our kids. That means Big Tobacco outspends Tobacco Free Florida by 24-to-1 on marketing efforts.

“Reducing the amount Tobacco Free Florida can spend on marketing would further exacerbate this problem and give Big Tobacco more opportunities to target Florida’s kids with their deadly products … There has not been a single member of the public or organization that has testified in support of Proposal 94 since its introduction.

“Proposal 94 would be bad for the health of Florida’s kids and adults. Therefore, the public health community remains joined in opposition to Proposal 94.”