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By: Amos Morgenstern
New York is allocating significant tax dollars towards a survey aimed at understanding public sentiment regarding the potential prohibition of tobacco products, while notably omitting any inquiry about banning marijuana. This decision has raised questions about the allocation of taxpayer money and the state’s priorities in addressing health concerns related to smoking.
According to statistics, smoking cigarettes remains a significant public health concern. In the United States, approximately 14% of adults smoke cigarettes, despite decades of public health campaigns and increasing awareness of the dangers associated with tobacco use. Smoking is a leading cause of preventable deaths, contributing to heart disease, lung cancer, and other chronic health conditions. In New York, a state that has been proactive in implementing anti-smoking measures, the smoking rate is lower than the national average, standing at around 12%.
However, the state is now considering a more drastic approach – an all-out prohibition of tobacco sales.
The survey, funded by the state Health Department, is spending at least $150,000 to gather data from around 6,000 New Yorkers. The participants are offered financial incentives, including $5 sent along with a mailer and an additional $20 for completing the survey. The questions in the survey cover a range of topics, including smoking and vaping habits, as well as opinions on potential tobacco prohibition. New Yorkers are being asked about their views on policies that would ban the sale of flavored tobacco products, among other issues.
The survey’s objective is to gauge public interest in implementing a tobacco sales ban within ten years. While the state is focusing heavily on tobacco, there is a conspicuous absence of questions concerning the prohibition of marijuana. This omission is noteworthy given that New York legalized the sale of marijuana in 2021. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting serious health risks associated with marijuana use, including links to mental illness and cardiovascular events.
The decision to allocate taxpayer money in this manner has drawn criticism. Some argue that it represents a misuse of funds, as taxpayers’ money is essentially being used to incentivize individuals to participate in a survey. This approach is unusual and has raised eyebrows among insiders in Albany.
The $150,000 expenditure does not cover all associated costs. It does not include the expenses related to mailing, nor does it account for individuals who may have discarded the survey mailers or simply pocketed the money without taking the survey. Furthermore, there are additional costs related to the nonprofit research organization RTI International, which was responsible for producing the survey.
Kent Sopris, president of the New York Association of Convenience Store Owners, suggests that the state’s priorities are misplaced. Instead of paying individuals to take surveys, he argues that resources would be better spent on efforts to combat the illegal sale of cigarettes on the black market and addressing underage cannabis and tobacco use. This perspective is grounded in the fact that marijuana use has been associated with health risks, including a higher risk of cardiovascular events and an increased risk of schizophrenia in young men.
The state Health Department has defended its approach, framing it as an effort to prevent further harm caused by tobacco. Smoking has long been linked to lung cancer, heart disease, and various other health issues. However, the absence of similar attention to the potential health risks associated with marijuana use raises questions about consistency in public health policy.
