Poway Earns ‘F’ for Its Tobacco Policies

Poway has room for improvement when it comes to its policies on smoking and tobacco, according to data just released by the American Lung Association.

Every year, the organization issues grades to California cities and counties based on three areas: Smoke-Free Outdoor Environments, Smoke-Free Housing and Reducing the Sales of Tobacco Products.

Poway earned a D for its Smoke-Free Outdoor Environments, but an F in the other two categories, giving the city an overall F grade. 

Here in North County, Carlsbad, Oceanside and San Marcos also earned an F while Del Mar earned a D, and Solana Beach led the pack with a B grade. A full report can be viewed online here. 

The American Lung Association, which also tracks data for all 50 US states, found that California has fallen behind much of the nation in protecting residents from tobacco, receiving an F for "failing to adequately fund tobacco prevention and control programs, and a D for its low cigarette tax."

Passing the California Cancer Research Act on the June ballot could improve the state’s grade, contends the American Lung Association. In San Diego County, the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and the American Lung Association plan to collaborate in an effort to get that ballot passed.