Tobacco BBS -- News and Resources

Louisville Courier-Journal
Sunday, December 28, 1997
Editorial
(Forum section). Page D-2.
©1997 The Louisville Courier-Journal
Reprinted with Permission 12/30/97

THERE is a joke told in 12-step circles. It goes like this: "How do you know an alcoholic is lying?" Answer: "His lips are moving."

We are beginning to think the same joke could be told about tobacco company officials. Can anything they say be trusted as true?

The most visual example of their deceitfulness, of course, was the lineup of seven tobacco company CEOs telling a congressional committee, under oath, that nicotine was not addictive. That later led to a grand jury investigation.

Then there were the 4,000 pages of purloined Brown & Williamson documents that led the American Medical Association, after studying them, to refer to the tobacco industry as "predatory."

"This industry has managed to spread confusion by suppressing, manipulating, and distorting the scientific record," the AMA wrote.

In recent months, the industry has seemed chastened, weakened -- sympathetic, almost -- as the settlement negotiations have continued. Its lawyers and spokespersons have appeared eager to put the sins of the fathers behind them and start on a more respectable path.

But last week, we were reminded what a difficult industry this will be to change -- in fact, we wonder whether it ever will.

The Associated Press reported on Brown & Williamson's development of a genetically altered, nicotine-enhanced tobacco. Tons of it are being grown in Brazil.

This, of course, is the potent product whose existence B&W at first denied, then admitted to in 1994. Since then, the untruths have continued, as the AP story revealed.

For example, B&W assured the FDA that this highly addictive tobacco wasn't used in products sold in the U.S., but that turned out to be wrong. It was used in some Viceroy, Richland and Raleigh cigarettes. Using this tobacco wasn't illegal -- just alarming.

So, under popular and FDA pressure, B&W said the company had dropped the project. Brazilian farmers were supposedly told not to grow what's called "fumo louco" - or "crazy tobacco" - anymore. Now the AP, reports that farmers have continued to grow the high-nicotine product, and that Souza Cruz, a sister company of B&W, pays top dollar for it.

"The company line is that what we're planting today is different tobacco," said a former Souza Cruz field instructor. "But anyone who works with the stuff knows that's just a story."

Americans are tired of tobacco company lines and stories. The health of this nation depends on finally getting the truth

This newspaper has urged Congress and the President to negotiate a settlement -- as quickly, efficiently and strictly as they can. But revelations like this of the industry's on-going deceit make us think passage of a settlement should await full release of the 3 million documents Minnesota Attorney General Hubert Humphrey III has collected. The public ought to know the truth of what's gone on, what's still going on, and who's responsible.

Meanwhile, the lips of tobacco company officials are still moving. It's a shame we can't believe what they say.

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