Report: Illinois receives failing grades for tobacco prevention programs, legal smoking age

A new report by the American Lung Association says Illinois is not doing enough to reduce tobacco use.

The

​, titled “State of Tobacco Control,” gives Illinois grades in funding for smoking cessation and prevention programs, tobacco taxation and access to existing quit-smoking services.

The Chicago Tribune

the state got a failing grade for keeping the minimum age to buy all tobacco products including e-cigarettes at 18. The association points out the majority of states failed in that category.

The lung association advocates making 21 the minimum age to buy tobacco and supported a legislative effort last year to change the law in Illinois. Former Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed that legislation .

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the proportion of U.S. high school students using electronic cigarettes jumped between 2017 and 2018, from 11.7 percent to 20.8 percent.