The Seventies
1970: World Health Organization (WHO) takes a public position against cigarette smoking.

1971: RJR sponsorship of NASCAR's NASCAR Grand National Division begins.

1971: Tobacco TV commercials are banned: The last commercial on U.S. TV is a Virginia Slims ad, aired at 11:59 PM on the Johnny Carson Tonight show, Jan. 1, 1971.

1972: Tobacco advertisements, direct mail and point-of-sale material are all required to carry health warnings.

1972: Marlboro Lights introduced, promising lower tar and nicotine.

1973: Arizona becomes the first state (in modern times) to pass a comprehensive law restricting smoking in public places. The law forbids smoking in public places like elevators, libraries, indoor theaters, concert halls, and buses.

1975: Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act, the nation's first statewide anti-second-hand smoke law goes into effect. It is the first law to require separation of smokers and nonsmokers.

1977: 1st Great American Smokeout

1977: Berkeley, California became the first community in California to limit smoking in restaurants and other public places.

1979: Minneapolis and St. Paul become the first U.S. cities to ban the distribution of free cigarette samples.

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