Drummer for Chicago backs Tobacco Tax Increase

Malibu resident Tris Imboden, drummer for the band Chicago and lung cancer survivor, is urging registered California voters to sign petitions this month to qualify a $2/pack tobacco tax increase for the November ballot. Imboden, who survived stage 3A lung cancer only through surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, lost his mother to tobacco-related heart disease a short time later.

California has one of the lowest tobacco taxes in the country. Raising it $2 will keep 150,000 kids from ever starting to smoke, improve healthcare, and fund research into cures for cancer and other tobacco-related illnesses. The tax would apply to e-cigarettes for the first time, too.

According to the American Cancer Society, smoking kills more Americans that alcohol, car accidents, HIV, guns, and illegal drugs combined. And treating tobacco-related illnesses costs California taxpayers about $13.5 billion every year through Medical.

"Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of cancer in this country," Imboden says. "Smoking is directly linked not only lung cancer, but to cancers of the mouth and throat, colon, breast, pancreas, kidney, liver, cervix, stomach and myeloid leukemia."

Smoking increases the risk of heart attack and stroke and causes COPD (chronic emphysema and bronchitis, the third leading cause of death in this country). It effects sexual function in men, healthy pregnancy and births, decreases HDL (good cholesterol), and contributes to cataracts and macular degeneration, thinning bones, and decreased immune function among many others.

"Big Tobacco’s influence at the Capitol has prevented legislation raising the tobacco tax statewide from being passed by lawmakers and that is why it is important that voters support the initiative on the November ballot," Imboden says.

"Don’t let Big Tobacco make a profit killing more than 100 Americans every day. Join me and a coalition of doctors, dentists, healthcare workers and nonprofits dedicated to saving lives. This is not a partisan issue! Registered voters, go to www.savelivescalifornia.com today to sign the online petition."

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