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| Sweet cigarettes enrage tobacco critics1 September 2004 15 59 Source »»»They're the new "exotic blend" cigarettes being sold under the Camel label by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. The fruity cigarettes follow other offerings that critics say the tobacco industry have aimed at children, such as lollipops containing nicotine and a tobacco lozenge called Ariva. "Enough is enough," said Kristin Page-Nei of the American Cancer Society of Montana during a news conference in Helena Thursday. "RJR's new candy-flavored cigarette is one more item in a growing bazaar of products that are designed to deliver a highly addictive drug - nicotine - to children and are unregulated by the (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)." The Cancer Society and Montana's other leading health organizations, such as the American Heart Association and Montana Pharmacy Association, have sent a letter to the state's congressional delegation urging lawmakers to support federal legislation that would give the FDA a stronger role in regulating tobacco. Currently, many federal agencies, including the FDA, have some hand in U.S. tobacco regulation. Under a bill amendment that passed the Senate on July 15, the FDA would be able to stop illegal sales of tobacco products to children, restrict advertising and promotions that appeal to children and require larger and more informative health warnings on tobacco products, among other things. The House has yet to vote on the measure. But Ellen Wallace, spokeswoman for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., said the federal government already strongly regulates tobacco. "The federal government knows what we're doing," Wallace said. And Wallace went on to deny that the new tobacco products are aimed at children. "Camel exotic blends are seen as an occasional smoke for an adult smoker," Wallace said from her office in Winston-Salem, N.C. "We do not market any of our products to children." Wallace pointed out that the flavored exotic blends are premium-priced, and sell for upward of $7 a pack in some parts of the country. She also said all cigarettes - except two that advertise themselves as "additive-free" - contain flavorings and said the new Camel blends follow that trend. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., did not vote on the amendment July 15 due to an injury he suffered in a July 3 motorcycle accident, but his press secretary said he supports the amendment. Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., voted against it and Rep. Denny Rehberg hasn't gotten a chance to vote on the amendment yet since it hasn't come before the House.
By ALLISON FARRELL; Gazette State Bureau
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