Jump to full article: The Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition, 2001-04-25
Author: Scott Ritter / Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-6687; scott.ritter@dowjones.com
Intro: The U.S. Supreme Court seemed torn Wednesday as it weighed the fate of a Massachusetts effort to keep storefront cigarette advertisements out of the view of youngsters.
Tobacco companies attacked the 1999 regulations on two fronts, arguing during an hour of arguments that the curbs violated both federal law and First Amendment speech protections. . .
But perhaps cigarettes are different, posing a significant health risk for youngsters because of their "highly addictive" qualities, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg suggested.
"We're dealing with a commodity like no other," she said. "Can't you make a distinction with respect to the danger of the product?" . .
Massachusetts was also backed by the Bush administration. Acting Solicitor General Barbara D. Underwood, arguing in favor of the restrictions, said the state's interest in curbing underage smoking was "truly compelling."
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