Kris Minard - Comment

This project is very important and will save lives. We've seen a decline in tobacco use with increased knowledge and publicity about the harm of use since the 80's, but the decline has leveled out and too many Americans are still using tobacco products. Health care costs of tobacco use fall on every American. This is not a dead issue as Jean Public posted. If you want to talk about a dead issue, let's talk about the 440,000 Americans who die a tobacco related death each year. If a graphic warning label keeps one person from using a tobacco product, that's one life saved. We are slowly changing the norms around tobacco use. With new products (E-cigarettes) it's imperative we continue the work...full speed ahead. Tobacco companies are targeting our youth. Tobacco flavors like bubble gum, cherry bomb, grape certainly aren't intended to attract adults. Increase tobacco product taxes (all of them) and make sure the money is spent on prevention and education. Yes, there was a master settlement, but that doesn't mean the issue is over. States are getting millions in settlement funds and spending peanuts on prevention and education. Legislators are using the funds to balance state budgets. We've come a long way baby...(just one example of how powerful tobacco industry advertising is) but we've got a long road ahead of us. New products, same problems. Nicotine, tar, smoke, carcinogens and addiction.