Master Settlement Agreement (MSA)

The Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) is a legal deal reached in 1998 among major U.S. tobacco companies and states to settle widespread lawsuits over health costs caused by smoking. It required tobacco companies to pay billions of dollars to states annually, fund anti-smoking programs, and restrict certain advertising practices. The MSA aimed to reduce smoking rates and recover healthcare expenses, while holding tobacco companies accountable. It also set a framework for how these companies operate and advertise in the future, helping address the public health and financial impacts of smoking.