Furthermore, they are certainly protecting a flow of money. If all Americans quit smoking overall public health would improve and these organizations would lose a huge amount of funds because diseases related to smoking to would start to disappear. Where do some of these funds come from? Donations yes. But also taxes on the very products they abhor. When the MSA money ran out, and they didn't use it for anti-tobacco education of course, they were forced to turn to taxes. States like California took out loans betting on cigarette taxes. But smoking rates have declined, in large part due to vapor products being a successful cessation aid when compared to other NRT's. As smoking rates decline the state finds that it cannot pay back the loans. So what's left to do besides continue to raise taxes(and they are)when the poor and underprivileged minorities are often the ones still smoking? Find something else to tax. The FDA has now deemed vapor tech as tobacco so that it can be taxed as such.