Philip Morris does not accept definitions of addiction that do not include intoxication and physical withdrawal as important markers, Bible said. When Michael Ciresi, lead attorney for the state, attempted to question Bible about manipulation of nicotine by adding ammonia to make the smoke less acidic and create a more potent form of nicotine, he said he didn't understand. Bible was called as a hostile witness in Minnesota's lawsuit against the tobacco industry. They also are seeking punitive damages, claiming the tobacco industry knew about the dangers of smoking for decades and hid that knowledge from the public while manipulating nicotine to hook smokers. In his second day of testimony, Bible also said he did not agree with statements in a Philip Morris memo written by Barbara Reuter.
Different people smoke cigarettes for different reasons.
Bible said he did not agree with Reuter's memo. Nicotine is a physiologically active substance, she wrote, and said similar organic chemicals include quinine, cocaine, atropine and morphine. I don't think she's a scientist. Reuter's position with the company was not clear from the document introduced in court. An attorney for the defendants could not immediately say.