DEFINING THE REAL DANGERS OF SMOKING

Whiff Flora's Aug. 6 Commentary "The burning question" asked how the Miami
jury could have been ignorant of expressions like "coffin nails" and
"cancer sticks." He said the real danger was emboldened plaintiffs'
attorneys gunning for more benign industries. I disagree on both counts. I
think the jury's only ignorance was of the cultural history of popular
drugs, and that the real danger lies in demonizing yet another one.

I suspect the jury believed the public has long known the risks of smoking,
Most important the jury knew that the tobacco CEOs knew. The jury acted in
anger and fear: anger at the harmful, selfish motives of tobacco CEOs of
the 20th century and fear of what tobacco CEOs of the 21st century might do.

This award - even after it is reduced on appeal - will lead to higher
prices, already rising sharply in response to recent legislation and damage
awards. Soon we will have small plots of contraband tobacco hidden to avoid
paying the crushing taxes and punitive judgments levied against the
now-shrinking "legal" tobacco companies. When the demonization is complete,
tobacco will be outlawed and tax revenue will dry up. Then we will dig deep
to find billions for eradication, "stings" of smokers buying tobacco on the
street, tobacco testing as a condition of employment, Prosecuting wives and
girlfriends on tobacco conspiracy charges, new prisons and tobacco
awareness resistance education classes taught to our children by law
enforcement officers. This is the real danger.