Jump to full article: Los Angeles Times, 2009-06-29
Intro: Blake Brown
He is an agricultural economist at North Carolina State University and provides economic analysis and educational programming for tobacco and peanut producers. . . .
"It's very hard to quantify the impact of regulations on the demand for tobacco. But I would think there would be two effects as a result of this legislation. One is, over time, we will see a substantial decline in cigarette consumption. I think the other potential impact is that these regulations call for modified-risk tobacco products. That will change the technology of the way cigarettes are made. These technology changes would likely lead to less tobacco per cigarette. . . .
Stanton Glantz . . .
Because the legislation allows the Food and Drug Administration to appoint a scientific advisory committee that will include representatives from the tobacco industry, Glantz says he feels the FDA will be unable to accomplish far-reaching measures to control tobacco and reduce smoking rates. . . .
Scott Ramminger
He's president of the American Wholesale Marketers Assn. . . . .
"We were not in favor of the legislation. We don't really think it's appropriate for FDA to be regulating tobacco. We don't think having more regulations is going to accomplish anything except cost the taxpayers a lot more money. It's difficult to say exactly what impact it's going to have. It really depends on how FDA decides to implement the legislation. That is where the rubber hits the road. . . .
Patrick Reynolds . . .
"My favorite part of the bill is the requirement for cigarette packs to carry graphic warning labels . . .
"I'm not going to complain about the bill because 99% of it is absolutely fantastic," Reynolds says. But he worries that FDA regulation could take the electronic cigarette off the market. . . .
Jeffrey Wigand . . .
It's better than no step. It is not by all means perfect . . .
"Philip Morris had no business being at the negotiation table helping to structure a bill that was going to regulate them. . . . I'm quite chagrined that they allowed Philip Morris to draft legislation at all.
"The bill will encourage more activity. . . . The crux is to de-normalize tobacco first and foremost for children.
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