SR-169, As Adopted by Senate, July 16, 2014

            Senator Marleau offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 169.

A resolution to commend CVS Caremark on its decision to stop selling tobacco products in its stores.

            Whereas, CVS Caremark has decided to stop selling tobacco products at its more than 7,600 stores across the United States by October 1, 2014, making it the first national pharmacy chain to take this step in support of the health and well-being of its patients and customers; and

            Whereas, Decades of tobacco control efforts have greatly reduced the prevalence of cigarette smoking, but the rate of reduction in smoking has stalled in recent years; 42 million people continue to smoke; and

            Whereas, The impact of tobacco on our nation’s children is striking. Ninety percent of adult smokers begin at or before age 18, and unless current trends are reversed, an estimated 5.6 million  kids alive today will die prematurely as a result of tobacco-related disease; and

            Whereas, Tobacco remains a critical public health issue that is costing the health care system billions of dollars annually; and

Whereas, The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) has estimated that between 1995 and 2015, tobacco-related disease will cost approximately $800 billion; and

Whereas, In Medicaid, expenditures as a result of tobacco use are estimated to be as high as $37.5 billion annually; and

Whereas, Studies have demonstrated a relationship between tobacco use and geographic density of stores that sell cigarettes. Reducing the density of stores that sell tobacco can help reduce smoking among young people; and

            Whereas, CVS Caremark’s decision to cease tobacco sales underscores its role in the United States’ evolving health care system. Pharmacies are becoming more involved in chronic disease management to help those with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes--all conditions that are exacerbated by smoking; and

            Whereas, Smoking is the leading cause of premature disease and death in the United States, killing more than 480,000 Americans and costing the nation an estimated $289 billion in medical costs and lost productivity annually; and

            Whereas, CVS Caremark has also pledged to help millions of Americans quit smoking by launching a national smoking cessation program, with the goal of helping Americans to quit smoking and get healthy; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we congratulate CVS Caremark for stopping the sale of tobacco products in its stores; and be it further

            Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to CVS Caremark as an expression of our gratitude.