Community Corner

American Lung Association Gives Lemon Grove an 'F' in Tobacco Control Policies

The city receives a failing grade in an annual report released by the association.

The city of Lemon Grove received a failing grade in the annual State of Tobacco Control report by the American Lung Association (ALA).

The report, which was released in January, rates policies to restrict smoking and sales of tobacco products.

The city of Lemon Grove was rated in three categories and received the following grades:

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  • Smoke-free outdoor air: D
  • Smoke-free housing: F
  • Reducing sales of tobacco products: F

The grade criteria for smoke-free outdoor air included five outdoor areas: Dining areas, entryways, public events, recreation areas, and service areas. Point values from 0 to 4 were given based on the strength of the local ordinance.

The city received 4 points for recreation areas, and 2 points for service areas. The city prohibits smoking in Lemon Grove's five public parks. Services areas are described as places where people wait for services, such as the line for the ATM or the bus stop.

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The total of 6 points earned the city a D ranking in the category. No points were awarded in the other two categories.

This is the first year that the American Lung Association in California has issued grades for all municipalities in the state.

According to the ALA, Lemon Grove's grade is comparable to most cities in California with 67 percent of jurisdictions in the state receiving a failing grade.

“California’s tobacco tax is too low,” said ALA President and CEO Jane Warner. “Cigarettes are too cheap and we are failing to adequately protect our children from becoming regular cigarette smokers.”

Nearly four million people in California smoke, and tobacco-related illness remains the No. 1 preventable cause of death in the state, according to the ALA.

See the full report here.


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