Judge blocks graphic images on cigarette packages

[Will E Worm]

Judge blocks graphic images on cigarette packages

A judge on Monday blocked a federal requirement that would have begun forcing tobacco companies next year to put graphic images including dead and diseased smokers on their cigarette packages.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled that it's likely the cigarette makers will succeed in a lawsuit to block the new standard. He stopped the requirement until after the lawsuit is resolved, which could take years.

A similar case brought by the tobacco companies against the labels is pending before the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati. U.S. District Judge Joseph McKinley upheld most of the marketing restrictions in the law in January 2010. The appeals court heard arguments in the case in July but is not expected to rule for several months.

Leon found the nine graphic images approved by the Food and Drug Administration in June go beyond conveying the facts about the health risks of smoking or go beyond that into advocacy - a critical distinction in a case over free speech.

Article

Forced propaganda from the FDA. That's what these images are.

Why no forced propaganda on alcohol and liquor?
Both kill more people than cigarettes.

 

[luvsemlarge]

Fucking - A!

Nobody is forced to smoke. Everyone knows the medical issues related to smoking. Making the manufacturer put graphic images on the packaging is in my opinion going too fucking far! What's next? Putting a picture of a terribly obese man or woman on a McDonald's Big Mac wrapper?

Anybody else sick and tired of the NANNY state syndrome? Telling us all how to behave, eat, drink, and basically running our lives?

 

[PlumpRump]

Why don't they put pictures of heart disease on the front of bacon packaging? Or pictures of diabetic amputees on the front of boxes of donuts while they're at it?

At least cigarettes create a significant amount of revenue in the way of state/federal taxes. I mean, I know that the money is just pissed away anyhow, but at least its revenue creation.

 

[luvsemlarge]

Or just use this photo on all products!

 

[Ace Boobtoucher]

They put graphic images on all the smokes in Brazil. Never stopped me from lighting up. Well, the one that inferred that smoking can cause impotence with a drooping cigarette ash did give me pause for thought.