U.S. Senate Votes to Give FDA Much More Power over Tobacco

In a historic vote Thursday, the U.S. Senate voted to offer FDA regulators much more power over various aspects of the tobacco industry, including limits on the amount of nicotine that can be added to cigarettes, further limits on tobacco product advertising and a ban on flavored tobacco products. President Obama, himself a smoker, has noted that he is eagerly anticipating signing the legislation. Said Obama, "At any given moment, millions are struggling with their habit or worrying about loved ones who smoke." The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the issue later today.

While those opposing the tobacco industry and cigarettes in general note that the legislation would reduce deaths and save $100 billion annually in health care costs, opponents in the industry were less than thrilled with the news. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cigarette smoking kills roughly 400,000 people in the U.S. each year. Despite warnings that have been shown on cigarette packs for 45 years that link smoking with lung cancer, there are still 45 million adult smokers in the country.

Speaking about the legislation, Matthew Myers, president of Campaign for Tobacco-free kids, noted, "This legislation represents the strongest action Congress has ever taken to reduce tobacco use, the leading preventable cause of death in the United States." The legislation comes after a defeat in 2000, when the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4, ruling that the FDA did not have the authority under then-current laws to regulate tobacco products. The new legislation, in essence, would create a new set of laws that would give the FDA exactly that authority.