THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 30, 1994 TAG: 9407290023
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
I am outraged that three of the four Virginia Senate candidates oppose FDA control over tobacco sales. It is a longstanding disgrace to this state that our representatives have sold themselves to the tobacco lobby, no matter how grievous the industry's misconduct.
Tobacco companies manipulate nicotine content to keep smokers addicted and add such chemicals as ammonia and insecticides to cigarettes. They have suppressed information about addictiveness and have genetically engineered a tobacco plant with twice the nicotine.
The industry preys aggressively on children with such advertisements as Joe Camel, and pays film producers to feature specific cigarette brands in children's movies.
Ollie North, Doug Wilder and Marshall Coleman now say that protecting this mass murderer is more important than the public health and safety.
I thank Senator Robb for his willingness to allow the FDA to protect the public from the world's largest drug pusher. Someday, even Virginians must insist that this industry has lied and murdered long enough.
PATRICIA ANN SMITH
Virginia Beach, July 20, 1994 by CNB