Minnesota Smoke-Free Coalition.

The Minnesota Coalition for a Smoke-Free Society 2000 was incorporated in 1984 as a private nonprofit (501c3) organization to reduce the use of and exposure to tobacco in Minnesota. Effective January 1, 2000, the organization’s name was changed to Minnesota Smoke-Free Coalition. The coalition was a membership organization that included many institutions active in tobacco-related health issues in Minnesota, including insurers, hospitals, government agencies, academic researchers, and community organizations.

The organization’s goals were to prevent children from beginning an addiction to tobacco, to help those who wanted to quit smoking, and to protect nonsmokers from second hand smoke. To these ends, the coalition became a leader in tobacco control policy development and in lobbying for legislation consistent with its goals. In part, it was responsible for Minnesota legislation making schools and public buildings tobacco-free, increasing excise taxes and fees on tobacco products, expanding tobacco prevention programs, and creating the Tobacco Prevention and Local Public Health Endowment with funds from the settlement of Minnesota’s lawsuit again the tobacco industry.

The Coalition was dissolved sometime after 2006.

From the guide to the Minnesota Coalition for a Smoke-Free Society 2000 records., 1984-2007, (Minnesota Historical Society)