Fact Sheet

Tobacco use: Maryland 2026

Topic

Smoking by Region

Subtopic

State Facts

Cigarette use: Maryland*

In 2024, 7.8% of adults in Maryland smoked. Nationally, the adult cigarette smoking prevalence was 11.6%.
In 2018-2019, 47.9% of adults who smoked in Maryland smoked menthol cigarettes. Nationally, 32.3% of adult smokers used menthol cigarettes during this period.
In 2023, 3.2% of high school students in Maryland smoked cigarettes on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the prevalence of cigarette smoking among high school students was 3.5%.

Other tobacco product use: Maryland*

In 2024, 5.1% of adults in Maryland used e-cigarettes. Nationally, the adult e-cigarette use prevalence was 8.0%.
In 2024, 1.6% of adults in Maryland used smokeless tobacco every day or some days. Nationally, the adult smokeless tobacco use prevalence was 3.4%.
In 2023, 14.3% of high school students in Maryland used electronic vapor products on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the e-cigarette use prevalence among high school students was 18.0%.
In 2023, 2.6% of high school students in Maryland used chewing tobacco, snuff or dip on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the smokeless tobacco use prevalence among high school students was 2.3%.
In 2023, 4.1% of high school students in Maryland smoked cigars, cigarillos or little cigars on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the cigar use prevalence among high school students was 4.5%.

Economics of tobacco use and tobacco control

Maryland received $546.4 million (estimated) in revenue from tobacco settlement payments and taxes in fiscal year 2024.
Of this, the state allocated $16.1 million in state funds to tobacco prevention in fiscal year 2026, 33.5% of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's annual spending target.
Smoking-related health care costs: $3.14 billion per year.
Smoking-related losses in productivity: $6.4 billion per year.

Maryland tobacco laws

Tobacco taxes

Maryland is ranked 2nd in the U.S. for its cigarette tax of $5.00 per pack (enacted July 2024), compared with the national average of $2.05. (New York has the highest tax at $5.35 and Missouri has the lowest at 17 cents.)
Cigars are taxed at 70% of the wholesale price and premium cigars are taxed at 15% of the wholesale price. Pipe tobacco products are taxed at 30% of the wholesale price. Electronic smoking devices as defined are sold at 20% of the taxable price. Tobacco pipes are taxed at 12% of the taxable price. Vaping liquid sold in a container that contains 5 milliliters or less is taxed at 60% of the taxable price. All other tobacco products are taxed at 60% of the wholesale price.

Clean indoor air ordinances

Smoking is prohibited in all government and private workplaces, schools, childcare facilities, restaurants, bars, casinos/gaming establishments, and retail stores.
Vaping is prohibited on Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) trains and at MDOT MTA-owned stations.
E-cigarettes are included in the state's indoor air laws.

Flavor restrictions

The sale of flavored electronic smoking devices is prohibited, including disposable products (except tobacco and menthol flavor).

Licensing laws

Retailers and wholesalers are required to obtain a license to sell tobacco products.
A license is required for the shipment, manufacture, distribution, important, or sale of e-cigarettes into or within the state.

Youth access laws

In December 2019, the United States adopted a law raising the federal minimum age of sale of all tobacco products to 21, effective immediately.
Establishments are required to post signs stating that sales to people under 21 are prohibited.
People under 21 are prohibited from buying electronic smoking devices, including e-cigarettes.
Sale/distribution of electronic smoking devices or coupons for electronic smoking devices to persons under age 21 years prohibited unless person is at least 18 years of age and an active duty member of the military.
Vending machine sales of electronic smoking devices prohibited unless located in establishment inaccessible to persons under age 21.

Local tobacco laws

Montgomery County, Maryland:
Prohibits e-cigarette manufacturers from distributing all e-cigarettes to retail stores within a half mile of a middle or high school.
Prohibits e-cigarette manufacturers from distributing flavored e-cigarettes to retail stores within a half mile of any middle or high school, library, or recreational facility.

Quitting statistics and benefits

The CDC estimates that 52.3% of daily adult smokers in Maryland quit smoking for one or more days in 2019.
In 2014, the Affordable Care Act required that Medicaid programs cover all quit medications.**
Maryland's state quit line invests $4.11 per smoker, compared with the national median of $2.62.
Maryland has a private insurance mandate provision for cessation.

Notes and references

Updated March 2026

*The datasets for both adults and youth prevalence were used to make direct comparisons at the state and national levels. National prevalence reported here may differ from what is reported in our national-level fact sheets. The numbers here also reflect the most recent data available. Dates of available data may differ across state fact sheets.

**The seven recommended quitting medications are NRT gum, NRT patch, NRT nasal spray, NRT inhaler, NRT lozenge, Varenicline (Chantix) and Bupropion (Zyban).

Fiore MC, et al. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update. Clinical Practice Guideline. Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service: May 2008.

CDC. (2024). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
CDC. (2024). State Menthol Fact Sheets.
CDC. (2023). High School Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (2026). Broken Promises to Our Children: A State-by-State Look at the 1998 Tobacco Settlement 27 Years Later. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/what-we-do/us/statereport
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (2024). The Toll of Tobacco in the United States. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
American Lung Association. (2024). State Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues (SLATI).
American Lung Association. (2026). State of Tobacco Control. https://www.lung.org/research/sotc
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (2024). State Cigarette Excise Tax Rates & Rankings. https://assets.tobaccofreekids.org/factsheets/0097.pdf
Public Health Law Center. (2024, June 15). U.S. E-Cigarette Regulations: 50 State Review. https://www.publichealthlawcenter.org/resources/us-e-cigarette-regulations-50-state-review
Truth Initiative. (2024, June 30). Local restrictions on flavored tobacco and e-cigarette products. https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/emerging-tobacco-products/local-restrictions-flavored-tobacco-and-e-cigarette
FDA. (2024). Tobacco 21. https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/retail-sales-tobacco-products/tobacco-21
CDC. (2024). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation System.