Jump to full article: New York Times, 2009-06-12
Intro: After more than a decade of struggle -- and countless smoking-related deaths -- the Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill on Thursday that gives the Food and Drug Administration the power to regulate tobacco products. The House approved a similar bill in April, also by an overwhelming margin. The days when this rogue industry could inflict its harmful products on Americans with impunity are drawing to a close.
This is an enormous victory for public health. For that, we owe thanks to tireless advocacy by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a nonprofit organization, and strong endorsements from medical groups.
It still might not have passed without the decision by Philip Morris . . .
To the extent allowed by the First Amendment, the regulators could restrict advertising and promotions to children -- industry needs to addict them to keep replenishing the population of smokers -- and could shape advertisements aimed at adults as well. The agency could prohibit unsubstantiated health claims about supposedly "reduced risk" products and require larger, more effective health warnings on packages and advertisements.
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It has now been proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that cigarette makers have spent decades making false statements, suppressing evidence of harm, and manipulating the design of cigarettes to increase their addictiveness. Federal regulators should be able to stop many of these abuses -- and we hope help prevent more Americans from losing their lives to smoking.
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