ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, April 17, 1997               TAG: 9704170040
SECTION: EDITORIAL                PAGE: A-16 EDITION: METRO 

TOBACCO'S WHOLESOME PITCH

How could anything (gasp) natural (hack) be bad for you?

FOR THE whole-earth, health-conscious smoker comes Natural American Spirit, an all-natural cigarette "Made from 100% Chemical-Additive-Free, Whole Leaf, Natural Virginia Tobacco and nothing else."

Sold through natural-food stores, the smokes are free of any of the 599 additives that can be found among the major brands. They do, however, contain more tar and nicotine per cigarette than, say, Marlboros.

No matter. A San Francisco shopkeeper told The Wall Street Journal that customers come in asking for "the one that's better for you."

Guff, yes. But pure, unadulterated guff.

LENGTH: Short :   22 lines