For Virginians, Cigarettes, Tobacco Need Tougher Regulation

Some 66 percent of Republicans, and 81 percent of Democrats in the state of Virginia favor FDA regulation of tobacco, according to poll conducted by the Global Strategy Group this year. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.

Anti-tobacco advocates are using the poll to show Virginians’ attitudes on this issue and harness wider support for stronger regulation in other tobacco growing states like Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

The US Senate is expected next week to debate if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should have the authority to regulate tobacco products. Public advocates are putting pressure on Virginia Senator Jim Webb and Mark Warner to support such a move.

"Senators Webb and Warner have a critical role to play in ensuring that strong FDA tobacco regulation is enacted into law," said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "We urge Senators Webb and Warner to vote for the bill when it's on the floor this year."

Under the authority of FDA, health advocates would get what they’ve been fighting for years -- less harmful cigarettes, stronger warning labels on cancer risks, and a more active role from the industry to deter minors from buying such products.

According to a press release this week by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, tobacco use kills more than 400,000 people in the US and costs more than $96 billion in health care bills each year. They also state that some 20 percent of high school students smoke and more than 1,000 kids become new regular smokers every day.

The tobacco industry is likely to continue to oppose the legislation, but public health advocates hope that with Democrats and moderates in Congress the bill will make it to President Obama’s desk.

Detailed poll results can be found at: www.tobaccofreekids.org

Dolores M. Bernal is a freelance journalist based in Los Angeles. You can contact her at: acejournalist (at) gmail.com