The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday that it will regulate all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, cigars, hookah tobacco and pipe tobacco, among others. Until now, the FDA could only regulate cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.
In addition to ending sales of tobacco products and e-cigarettes to people under age 18, the FDA will impose other restrictions, including:
- A prohibition on distribution of free samples
- A ban on selling e-cigarettes in vending machines unless they are in secure places that never admit young people
- A requirement that e-cigarettes carry warnings that they contain nicotine, which is addictive
The FDA attempted to ban the sale of e-cigarettes following a 2009 study that found detectable levels of carcinogens and toxic chemicals in e-cigarette samples. But a court ruled in 2010 that the FDA had not cited evidence of harm.
"This action is a milestone in consumer protection -- going forward, the FDA will be able to review new tobacco products not yet on the market, help prevent misleading claims by tobacco product manufacturers, evaluate the ingredients of tobacco products and how they are made, and communicate the potential risks of tobacco products," the FDA said in announcing the changes.
It is amazing how far we have declined as a free society. Advertisement for the product that put this country on its feet is now banned, barred, and expunged like most of our rich history. It was only a short time ago that we as a free people were allowed to advertise our tobacco products. But our parental government has outlawed those harmful activities and has therefore outlawed vast majorities of America.
