Smoking is not only one of the top causes of death in Cleveland, but is a function of years of inequitable and racist policy, with devastating consequences for communities of color. Dan talks with Dr. David Margolius, Director of Public Health for the City of Cleveland, about his and others' efforts to get Cleveland’s horrendous smoking rates under control, especially by addressing flavored tobacco. Topics include the origins of Cleveland's extremely high smoking rates; the racial dimensions of the debate over menthol cigarettes; regulating tobacco after passage of Issue 2, which legalized cannabis in Ohio; and political barriers, in the Cleveland City Council and in the Ohio Statehouse to putting meaningful anti-smoking public health policies in place. Show notes, streams, and ways to support at prognosisohio.com.

Hosted and produced by Dan Skinner. Social media and production support by Nathaniel Powell. Prognosis Ohio is a member of the WCBE Podcast Experience and the Health Podcast Network. Prognosis Ohio is a production of Prognosis Ohio, LLC.