Tobacco Rules Challenged In Free Speech Lawsuit
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125174788118073575.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Several tobacco companies such as Reynolds American Inc and Lonillard have filed a lawsuit seeking to block some provisions of a new federal tobacco law. These companies claim that the recently enacted law restricts their right to advertise their products by putting them under the ambit of the Food & Drug Administration. The companies are also objecting against provisions such as that make it mandatory for them to expand the size of warning labels besides including graphic images such as diseased lungs. This requirement will leave only a small portion of the packaging to display their own message, the companies argue. Although these companies are not against the provisions restricting the sale of their products to minors, they are questioning the regulations related to sale to adults. The law restricts the number of channels available to communicate with the adults, the companies say.
