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Posted by Marcus on June 13, 2009, 12:17 pm, in reply to "Re: So what is it....a drug or a medical device?"
The range of possibilities for how FDA regulation of tobacco could play out is mind boggling. Personally, I think that for the near-term, it will be pretty minimal - larger graphic warnings on cigarette pack, prohibition of terms like "light" and "mild", requiring cigarette manufacturers to list additives, etc. Eventually, we may see some real regulation like setting a cap on tar and nicotine content, but that will be difficult until a reliable way to measure content is developed.
I think FDA regulation of tobacco is ludicrous. First of all, tobacco is not a drug. It is a substance that contains a drug: nicotine, and, as a drug, nicotine is already regulated. Furthermore, saddling a Federal agency that already has more work than it can do in a timely manner with yet another responsibility is just plain stupid.
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