The American Lung Association in Greater Chicago applauds Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan who is one of the attorneys general in 28 states and territories that are asking five major U.S. retailers to stop selling tobacco products in stores that also have pharmacies.  The ALA joined Attorney General Madigan and the other attorneys general in calling for Wal-Mart Stores, Incorporated, Walgreen Company, Rite Aid Corporation, Safeway Incorporated and Kroger Company, to remove tobacco products from their shelves.  The group of attorneys general are urging the retailers to follow the example of CVS Caremark Corporation, who last month announced their plans to stop selling tobacco products.  The sale of tobacco products is the number one cause of preventable death and disease.  Today there are 43.8 million smokers in the country.  Tobacco-related diseases, such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, other cancers, heart disease and stroke kill almost half a million Americans each year.  By working to reduce access to tobacco products, every person and every company can play a role in helping end this toxic threat.