Reuters: US tobacco companies drop lawsuit vs FDA over labeling

The three largest U.S. tobacco companies on Tuesday dropped their lawsuit accusing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of exceeding its authority by closely monitoring the content of their product labels after the agency said it would reconsider its rules. Altria Group Inc, Reynolds American Inc and Lorillard Inc dismissed their case after the FDA […]

U.S. News: Nevada Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval secures unlikely win with approval of big tax increase

By MICHELLE RINDELS, Associated Press CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada’s Republican governor, Brian Sandoval, secured an unlikely victory Monday when the conservative state Legislature approved a huge tax increase at his urging as part of a plan to boost education spending. The $1.1 billion package raises taxes on businesses and cigarettes, and it makes […]

Reuters: Cigarette warnings work better with pictures, study shows

By Lisa Rapaport, Reuters Gruesome photographs on cigarette packages may deliver more effective anti-smoking messages than words, a new analysis finds. Researchers reviewed previous studies comparing images to text warnings on cigarette boxes and found pictures commanded more attention, elicited stronger emotional reactions, summoned more negative attitudes and made it more likely that smokers would […]

LA Times: California Senate votes to restrict e-cigarettes as tobacco products

By PATRICK MCGREEVY The state Senate on Tuesday approved a bill that would ban electronic cigarettes from restaurants, theaters and other public places in California where smoking is prohibited to address health concerns. Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) said his bill would treat e-cigarettes, also known as “vaping” devices, as tobacco products because they often […]

Reuters: California Senate votes to raise smoking age to 21 from 18

LOS ANGELES | BY ALEX DOBUZINSKIS The California Senate voted on Tuesday to raise the legal smoking age in the most populous U.S. state to 21 from 18, in a move that could make California one of the states with the highest smoking age. The measure was approved by the Senate 26-8 and must now […]