Did US Tobacco Industry Hire FDA to Kill Competition

I want to show how much influence and power the US tobacco industry has over the government and the people of the United States and how it affects marijuana legalization efforts.

Candy and Fruit Flavored Cigarettes Now Illegal in United States

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today a ban on cigarettes with flavors characterizing fruit, candy, or clove. The ban, authorized by the new Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, is part of a national effort by the FDA to reduce smoking in America. Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in America."

According the FDA, flavored tobacco is being used by teens more and more, even though tobacco use among teens has fallen. Well, the "protect the children" concept doesn't pan out. On top of that, the FDA is not banning menthol cigarettes, America's #1 flavored cigarette.

With that info, I thought perhaps it's protectionism at work. The FDA specifically mentions clove cigarettes which are mainly imported by Djarum, an Indonesian company. It would make sense since they specifically left out menthol cigarettes. That would protect the American tobacco industry. I think I hit the nail on the head.

Kretek Sues FDA Over Flavor Ban

"Kretek International Inc., importer and distributor of Djarum clove cigars, filed Wednesday a request for declaratory judgment against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), following what it claimed was the FDA's intention to exceed its legislative authority to regulate flavored cigarettes by banning other tobacco products as well"

Tobacco Cos. Reassure Retailers Ahead of FDA Flavor Ban

The nation's largest tobacco manufacturer, Altria Group, issued a statement saying that the ban "does not affect any of Philip Morris USA's cigarettes, cigarette tobacco and smokeless tobacco products; U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co.'s smokeless tobacco products; or John Middleton's cigars and pipe tobacco products," and all of the company's products would remain for sale after the Sept. 22 deadline.

The second-largest tobacco company in the U.S., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., also issued a statement that the ban does not apply to any of its current portfolio of cigarette products, all of which "are in compliance … and will remain available."

That is incredible. How is it that the FDA could issue a ban on flavored cigarettes that totally excepts American flavored cigarettes? Perhaps, I missed a few of the smaller American cigarette manufacturers that will get hurt. Also, why not include flavored cigars as well? Or, have they just not gotten around to it yet? Also, how can they specifically cite clove cigarettes when it's not

Unfortunately, there's not enough proof to connect the US tobacco industry with this severely one-sided legislation besides the fact that they benefit from it. It's like blaming the husband for the wife's death because he is named as the beneficiary on her insurance policy. It doesn't prove who did it. But, he sure is the #1 suspect in the case, so far.

Money is a hell of a drug.