"As California Goes, So Goes the Nation"
That famous saying could not be more true when it comes to protecting the public from tobacco use. California is a leader in creating policies to protect the public from the deadly effects of tobacco use and secondhand smoke, which encouraged other states and countries to do the same.
However, the history of reducing tobacco use and providing protection from secondhand smoke in California has not been easy. The tobacco industry fought back ferociously, filing lawsuits and trying to block new anti-tobacco policies. But, with every setback, the people of California increased their resolve to save lives and protect one another from smoking and secondhand smoke.
Learn the story of tobacco control in California through this Interactive Timeline.
To quickly search for a particular event or view descriptions in chart format, click here.
