I want to show how much influence and power the US tobacco industry has over the government and the people of the United States and how it affects marijuana legalization efforts.Candy and Fruit Flavored Cigarettes Now Illegal in United States
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today a ban on cigarettes with flavors characterizing fruit, candy, or clove. The ban, authorized by the new Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, is part of a national effort by the FDA to reduce smoking in America. Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in America."According the FDA, flavored tobacco is being used by teens more and more, even though tobacco use among teens has fallen. Well, the "protect the children" concept doesn't pan out. On top of that, the FDA is not banning menthol cigarettes, America's #1 flavored cigarette.
With that info, I thought perhaps it's protectionism at work. The FDA specifically mentions clove cigarettes which are mainly imported by Djarum, an Indonesian company. It would make sense since they specifically left out menthol cigarettes. That would protect the American tobacco industry. I think I hit the nail on the head.
Kretek Sues FDA Over Flavor Ban
"Kretek International Inc., importer and distributor of Djarum clove cigars, filed Wednesday a request for declaratory judgment against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), following what it claimed was the FDA's intention to exceed its legislative authority to regulate flavored cigarettes by banning other tobacco products as well"Tobacco Cos. Reassure Retailers Ahead of FDA Flavor Ban
The nation's largest tobacco manufacturer, Altria Group, issued a statement saying that the ban "does not affect any of Philip Morris USA's cigarettes, cigarette tobacco and smokeless tobacco products; U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co.'s smokeless tobacco products; or John Middleton's cigars and pipe tobacco products," and all of the company's products would remain for sale after the Sept. 22 deadline.That is incredible. How is it that the FDA could issue a ban on flavored cigarettes that totally excepts American flavored cigarettes? Perhaps, I missed a few of the smaller American cigarette manufacturers that will get hurt. Also, why not include flavored cigars as well? Or, have they just not gotten around to it yet? Also, how can they specifically cite clove cigarettes when it's not
The second-largest tobacco company in the U.S., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., also issued a statement that the ban does not apply to any of its current portfolio of cigarette products, all of which "are in compliance … and will remain available."
Unfortunately, there's not enough proof to connect the US tobacco industry with this severely one-sided legislation besides the fact that they benefit from it. It's like blaming the husband for the wife's death because he is named as the beneficiary on her insurance policy. It doesn't prove who did it. But, he sure is the #1 suspect in the case, so far.
Money is a hell of a drug.
2 responses to Anthony's Wisdom:
This is quite the irresponsible piece of journalism. Did you speak to anyone at the FDA? Did you speak to anyone at any tobacco company? Did you even talk to the guy down the street who sells cigarettes? I ask because I don't see any quotes here from any of those people.
Most of what you've written seems to me to be pure conjecture. Your final sentence "Money is a hell of a drug", seems to insinuate that someone got paid by someone. So who paid who? Do you have any evidence of any payment? Or is that more conjecture?
The headline "Did US Tobacco Industry Hire FDA to Kill Competition?" sems evocative of another headline I've seen recently "Dis Glenn Beck rapand murder a woman in 1990". Both headlines suggest terrible crimes have been committed. Did you mean to imply that the FDA is open to bribery, with the highest bidder receiving preferential treatment? Who accepts these bribes? Do you have any evidence that bribery occurred?
This matter should be investigated, however, a responsible journalist would investigate first and then write about his findings, rather than suggesting random things that might have happened and doing no investigation at all.
Do you have the ethical fortitude to retract this article and re-publish once you've investigated the claims you've made here?
Wonderfully put and I agree with you wholeheartedly. One thing I am not is a journalist. I didn't go to college for that. But, with this piece that I wrote, I got what I wanted...
"This matter should be investigated.."
...your interest in the truth.
You raise a lot of great questions, questions that I have, and questions that deserve an answer. Unfortunately, these are not questions that even a true journalist can investigate. This one is for the politicians.
None of it may be true but there's a reason it bothers you. Maybe, it makes complete sense.
If you know more than me, you shouldn't be responding on my blog. You should be blowing the whistle. I'd support you.
Post a Comment