They'll contend the executives hid that fact in collusion, and thus became virtual drug dealers, peddling their wares, even to children, under the guise of a legal product. The burden of proof on the government will be substantial. We hope our national leaders would have had sounder tactics in bringing the tobacco firms to heel. We'd like stronger regulation of tobacco as a drug and an end to tobacco sponsorship of sports events. But this case seems a shaky vehicle for moving the antitobacco agenda forward.
Legislation is the best way.
Despite last year's failure in Congress of a bill that would have accomplished all of the above, we urge right-minded lawmakers to keep at it. Big Tobacco's political power can only continue to decline as we see through its smokescreen of deceit.