From mid-2001 through 2004, the Maine Coalition on Smoking or Health, with Consumers for Affordable Health Care Foundation as the lead organization, conducted statewide activities to reduce tobacco use, particularly among children and youth.

The project was part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) national program SmokeLess States®.

Key Results
Among the results of the project are the following:

• Maine increased its cigarette excise tax from 74 cents to $1 dollar per pack.
• Maine added bars, pool halls, hotel lounges and bingo games to the state's smoke-free public places/workplaces law.
• Maine remained the number one state in the nation on per-capita spending of tobacco settlement funds for tobacco control and prevention programs.
• Maine passed a law prohibiting smoking in foster homes within 12 hours of children being present.
• Maine passed a law prohibiting the sale of water laced with nicotine.
• Maine initiated a policy of offering "universal coverage" for tobacco cessation counseling and medication for callers to the state's tobacco HelpLine.

Funding
RWJF provided $992,060 for this project. Other sources — including the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society — contributed approximately $274,000 to support lobbying and other activities; no RWJF funds were used to support lobbying. (See Appendix 1 for a list of additional funders.)