Cigarette nicotine levels could lower after FDA move, making them less addictive

In what the Food and Drug Administration chief called a "pivotal step," Commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced Thursday a plan to explore lowering nicotine levels in cigarettes to make them less addictive — or not addictive at all.

The move, he said, could help save millions of lives.

About 15% of U.S. adults smoke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Courts ordered ads in which tobacco companies had to admit their products kill 1,200 Americans every day.

"This unprecedented public health opportunity, contrasted against the cost of doing nothing, weighs heavily on me," Gottlieb said in a statement.

Thursday's announcement kicks off a long, multifaceted governmental process that will seek comment, research and data for public review. It's the latest move reflecting the FDA's power to regulate tobacco, a power it received in 2009.

The agency plans to announce similar explorations to regulate menthol cigarettes and premium cigars soon.

"We’re interested in public input on critical questions such as: What potential maximum nicotine level would be appropriate for the protection of public health? Should a product standard be implemented all at once or gradually?" Gottlieb said.

He questioned whether lowering nicotine levels would open the door to illicit trade or force addicted smokers to compensate by smoking even more.

In the statement, Gottlieb cited an FDA-funded study published Thursday in The New England Journal of Medicine estimating that a hypothetical version of a policy lowering nicotine levels could result in as many as 5 million people quitting smoking within a year.

Although the FDA sees benefits in lessening nicotine levels, it does not want to make cigarettes harder to get. Gottlieb noted, "We must make it possible for current adult smokers who still seek nicotine to get it from alternative and less harmful sources."

The move could result in massive shifts for the tobacco industry.

"As this process gets underway, we look forward to working with FDA on its science-based review of nicotine levels in cigarettes and to build on the opportunity of establishing a regulatory framework that is based on tobacco harm reduction and recognizes the continuum of risk," James Figlar, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco's executive vice president of research and development, said in a statement to NPR. R.J. Reynolds is the company behind Newport, Camel and Pall Mall cigarettes.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/03/15/cigarettes-might-not-contain-nicotine-much-future-fda-announces-headline/428279002/ 

https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/UCM601039.htm 

Surprised there are no sarcastic posts about "whining" on this. Guess it hit too close to home…

Nah. It’s just when you post so many threads in rapid succession on the same or similar topic using long cut and pastes rather than any original thought people become disinterested in anything you post.

To be honest I never read this one because I figured it was more of your repetitive drivel when in fact it might be interesting. Maybe I’ll read it tomorrow morning.

Probably not though. I don’t need a bunch of cut and pasted stories when I can just read my own news sources.

Meh.

I figured since you gave yourself a pity top I’d give you two.

^^^ I've learned that most are too lazy to copy and paste a link and read the actual article for themselves if it is not posted. So if you don't post the actual article the point is lost. And if you don't post a footnote for the article most consider it "fake news". Oh… that's right, you still didn't read the article. DOH!

Get back to me on the "repetitive drivel" when they start passing another law against tobacco while you're puffing your cigar.

Typical…

Go back to the 8-pages of drivel discussing the pornstar the Prez may or may not have slept with. I think most are envious that (1) they don't have enough cash to sleep with a pornstar themselves, or (2) most couldn't keep it up long enough without Viagra to make it worth the cash spent. By all means that topic is critical.

What ever…

Regardless of the mechanics of this thread just to be on the safe side I will compact my hoard of ammunition so that it might be accompanied by cigars.

Agreed. I have ammo and cigars, and they will touch neither. 🤬

Drivel as in posting at least two cut and paste articles yesterday on the same topic at roughly the same time in separate threads on the topic you are obsessed with while adding nothing substantive of your own.

It’s like you are trying to turn this into the drudge or breitbart site on one sided opioid articles.

I’d be o retested on your original thoughts. Not your continued cut and pastes.

Didn’t read this one. When the boy called wolf this time o figured it was last time. Sorry if this one is different. Or is it?

Cacman posted

The agency plans to announce similar explorations to regulate menthol cigarettes and premium cigars soon.

Whew! Means my cigars are safe!

Best tell them to drop the idea or I’ll be forced to tell my Quail hunting buddy who happens to be a retired DA that loves a good cigar. lol

I guarantee that he would bring this in front of a judge he knows who loves cigars fairly quickly.

Thanks for posting Carl.

I'm not an asswhole like teedubya, I'm just a diçk.

Nobody made you read or post on his thread teedubya.....I think you like bitching and hitting on drafter and Victor.

Well, we are dreamy... 😟

True true

Never underestimate yourself Z, you are clearly an azzhole. Personally I think big Pharma will profit due to increased sales of nicotine patches that smokers will need when nicotine levels are decreased. I would say this seems like a government conspiracy, but we all know the new world order are really Illuminati.

Ouch. Love hurts

Which category do your menthol cigars fit under?

Try vaseline next time.

Underlube is better

I use PAM cooking spray.......Tastes great, Less Filling8-[