San Rafael Aces Smoking Test

San Rafael's moves to stick to the Joe Camel are paying off.

That's according to a health group that gave the city high marks for tobacco control efforts.

San Rafael, which last year made headlines around the world when it enacted arguably the nation's toughest tobacco law, joins Marin County in getting an A grade from the American Lung Association's State of Tobacco Control 2014 report issued on Wednesday.

San Rafael may have taken a leadership role in its anti-smoking efforts, but the North Coast region apparently isn't following, the report said.

Mill Valley, Novato, Sebastopol, Sausalito, Larkspur, Rohnert Park, and Sonoma County got B grades, but the North Coast has checked out of the anti-tobacco fight according to the report, which says the region's efforts have "stalled."

"We must renew our commitment to stopping tobacco from robbing another generation of their health,” ALA of California Chair Mark DiGiorgio said in a prepared statement.

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