Morrisey signs youth smoking prevention bill into law

by Lori Kersey, West Virginia Watch
March 20, 2026

Gov. Patrick Morrisey has signed into law a bill that will allocate a portion of the state’s settlement with e-cigarette company Juul to anti-smoking and vaping programs in the state. 

Morrisey signed House Bill 5691, which will allocate $2.9 million from the state’s $7.9 million settlement with Juul toward youth tobacco prevention and prevention programs.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network advocated for the bill, presenting lawmakers with more than 1,200 petitions from West Virginia residents and sending a letter to Morrisey asking him to sign it. 

The state has some of the highest rates of teen and adult smoking in the country. Nearly 28% of high schoolers in the state use vaping products. 

More than 37% of the state’s cancer deaths are caused by smoking, according to the American Cancer Society. 

In a statement Thursday, Doug Hogan, government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, commended Morrisey for signing the bill. 

“As Big Tobacco has been working hard to addict future generations with e-cigarettes and other tobacco products, the need for funding for tobacco prevention programs has never been greater,” he said. 

The bill is a vital first step toward reducing the tobacco use in the state, he said. 

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