HealthRock™ Applauds Antismoking Law, but Warns that it is Still Dangerous to Smoke

June 22, 2009

On June 22, 2009, President Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act into law. This law gives the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) power to regulate tobacco products.

However, the law does not give the FDA Power to ban tobacco or nicotine. This means that the law does not change an important truth: it is still dangerous to smoke.

Of course, this antismoking law is a step in the right direction. For example, it requires tobacco companies to reduce the amount of nicotine in tobacco products. It also calls for a ban of candy-flavored tobacco products and inaccurate descriptions like "low tar" and "light."

In addition, tobacco companies will have to include much larger warnings on packages, and they will no longer be allowed to market to children.

But the law won't let the FDA completely eliminate nicotine or tobacco. Once again, in spite of the new law, it is still dangerous to smoke.

For help talking to your kids about smoking, visit https://www.healthrock.com/music and check out DocRock's song, "I'm Not Smoking Cigarettes."