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Jump to full article: The Tennessean, 2008-05-19
Intro: I am writing about the recently published front-page story ("Tennessee slights lung cancer") regarding the state's use of $1.4 billion in tobacco-settlement dollars and the lack of funding earmarked for tobacco issues, not the least of which is lung cancer research. . . .
It's important that Tennesseans are aware that assistance is available when they choose to quit. In my job, I encourage people each day to stop using tobacco -- to recognize this unhealthy behavior as one that could have potentially fatal consequences.
--Barbara Forbes, MSN, GNP
coordinator of the Institute for Smoking Prevention and Cessation
Vanderbilt Dayani Center
Money from tobacco settlements should not be used for items unrelated to tobacco. This money is blood money.
It ought to be as plain as the nose on your face that the reason we don't spend any of the $1.4 billion that Tennessee has received from the tobacco settlement on tobacco problems is because we don't really want to eradicate lung and related cancers.
There's too much money being made from cancer.
Tennessee should honor the intent of the 1998 tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA).
The government has announced, that in their effort to reduce the number of smokers, they are mandating all flavored cigarettes, except menthol, be banned. The clove, cinnamon and other flavored cigarettes will not available. While it sounds like good legislation at first glance, the majority of all flavored cigarettes are menthol.
Just like gas, cigarettes are taxed and Uncle Sam wants to make sure there's continued profits being made, while trying to appear as a public health protector.
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