Kennedy will ask FDA to regulate smoking

The New York Times reports that Ted Kennedy will introduce legislation to have the FDA regulate tobacco.



Here's an excerpt:

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 — A Harvard study concluding that cigarette makers have for years deliberately increased nicotine levels in cigarettes to make them more addictive led to renewed calls Thursday for greater federal oversight of the industry.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy , the Massachusetts Democrat who is now chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, promised to reintroduce within weeks a bill that would allow the Food and Drug Administration to regulate cigarettes.

Mr. Kennedy’s bill passed the Senate in 2004 but failed in the House. With Democrats now in control of both houses, public health advocates said they had new hope that the legislation — debated for more than a decade — could pass.

On that general subject, here are some great short video clips on MySpace with dark humor about smoking:

Jay Leno on Saddam Hussein and the tobacco industry

And remember to wash your hands!

When that guy across from you asks "Do you mind if I smoke?"

(photo credit: sage )

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