Smokeless Tobacco Products

[Thomas3.20.2010]

The public fight over tobacco is taking new shapes, literally, as Colorado becomes a testing ground for nicotine in the form of toothpicks, breath mints and strips that dissolve on the tongue. The new forms of tobacco — potentially attractive to kids and a crutch for smokers whom health officials say should quit nicotine altogether — prompted public hearings and a scramble by regulators. Tobacco critics condemn the products as dangerous "candy" and a cynical move by Big Tobacco to boost sales. But Colorado efforts to blunt the new dissolvables will be hampered by the 2011 legislature's move to take a dedicated tobacco-fighting tax to plug budget holes. The state will have only $5.4 million for tobacco-fighting grants this year, down from $25.43 million from the Amendment 35 tobacco tax in 2007. The state public health department has called a special hearing on the new tobacco forms for Wednesday. "In my mind there's no safe level of tobacco," said Dr. Chris Urbina, director of the Department of Public Health and Environment. "I'd be very concerned about children picking these up. These look like small candy or mints." Tobacco companies say the new products appeal to smokers increasingly shut down by smoke-free zones. Cigarette smoking is down, but they've seen profitable growth in "spitless" tobacco pouches and the new dissolvable products. The Camel products "are made for and marketed to adult tobacco consumers. As a matter of fact, we developed the products in response to adult tobacco consumers who told us they were interested in products like our Camel dissolvables," said R.J. Reynolds Tobacco spokesman Richard Smith. "It is a guiding principle and belief at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company that youth should not use tobacco products." Read more: Smokeless tobacco products present new challenge for Colorado health officials - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_18682763?source=rss#ixzz1V5sbWhDm