Tobacco.org

LETTER: Big step against Big Tobacco  

Every day, 3,600 children try smoking and one third of them succumb to life-long addiction to nicotine. Many took their first puff on candy flavored cigarettes designed by tobacco companies to appeal to youth.

The free reign of tobacco changed Sept. 22 when it became illegal to manufacture and sell fruit and candy flavored cigarettes. . . .

While the TEC applauds this important step toward preventing the next generation from a deadly addiction, our work is not done. The FDA law left two gaping loopholes to be closed. Menthol cigarettes, the choice of 80 percent of African-American smokers, and flavored cigars and cigarillos, popular with teens, have escaped FDA regulation. We welcome the community to join us in our mission to "reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke in Solano County."

Jump to full article »