A House panel is convening to determine if the FDA should get into the business of regulating tobacco.
On the YES! side are Democrats:
“Like me, most people find it shocking that a cigarette is subject to less regulation than a lollipop,” said Rep. Henry A. Waxman, D-Calif., the chief sponsor of the House measure. “In the absence of comprehensive regulation, tobacco companies can market freely to kids. The industry has the unfettered ability to engineer their products to trigger quick and severe addiction.”
On the NO! side are Republicans:
Opponents of FDA tobacco regulation have said it makes no sense for the FDA to regulate a product that cannot be shown to be safe or to have any health benefits. Rep. Michael C. Burgess, R-Texas, who said he watched both of his parents die of lung diseases related to smoking, suggested such FDA regulation would be a waste of tax dollars. “What have you got next in line, crystal meth?” Burgess asked.
I'm solidly and completely on the fence about this issue, seeing merits in both sides of the argument, plus smoking is nasty, however as I recall, it is also quite fun, so I'm just torn. Meanwhile, we have stories like this one to remind us of the true evil in this country:
Candy and gum in the shape of tobacco products soon may go up in smoke if one New Jersey town has its way. Woodbridge is considering banning chocolate cigars and bubble gum shredded to resemble chewing tobacco in all shops across the township, according to council members, because it may lead to "potentially dangerous behavior."
You get it? "Up in smoke"? Har!
...whereas, in the presence of heavy regulation, the prescription drug companies can... market freely to *everyone*! Maybe we should put the tobacco companies in charge of oxycontin marketing... it might improve the situation.
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