Ä [17] NORML (1:375/48) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ NORML Ä
 Msg  : #5737 [179]                                                             
 From : Carl Olsen                          1:290/2         Sun 10 Apr 94 08:57 
 To   : Ripper                                                                  
 Subj : RE: Realization?                                                        
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
 >.MSGID: 1:320/887 2da4d779
 >.PID: Telegard 2.7
 >I think i have discovered the major reason why cannabis is illegal.
 >
 >TOBBACCO AND ALCHOHOL COMPANIES.
 >
 >If marijuana was legalized, then these very government-'supportive' compaines
 >would lose a lot of business. I'd rather smoke weed than drink beer or smoke
 >qa cigarette (which probably goes for most here... if not all).
 >
 >
 >--- GEcho 1.00
 > * Origin: Fear and Loathing BBS (203)-887-1663 (1:320/887)

RIPPER,
Check out the latest dope on tobacco:

Concern Overstated?
List of 13 additives
in cigarettes includes
hazardous chemicals
A congressman urges that
the top-secret list of 700
additives be made public.
        Washington, D.C. (AP) -- Chemicals added to cigarettes can cause liver
damage and convulsions in animals, a radio network reported Friday,  adding to
the furor over regulation of tobacco.
        But some experts say the uproar over a top-secret list of additives is
overblown, because scientists have known for 30 years of dozens of toxic
elements in cigarette smoke and tobacco itself that probably far outweigh the
danger from any added chemicals.

"Living in a Cave"
        "Anybody who doesnt know that cigarettes are a health hazard has been
living in a cave for the last 30 years," said Health and Human Services
Department spokesman Victor Zonana.
        "Most people have thought cigarette smoke is so horrible and there are
so many other bad things that are there ... that its hard to believe adding
things to it could make it that much worse," said Dr. Stanton Grantz, a medical
professor at the University of California, San Francisco.
        The list is but one issue in the battle over tobacco.  The Food and Drug
Administration is considering naming nicotine a drug, which would force it to
ban most cigarettes.
        Also in question is a federal law that makes companies tell the
government the more than 700 additives that go into cigarettes, but which  must
be kept secret under penalty of jail.
        National Public Radio on Friday made public 13 chemicals that it said
were from that top-secret list.
        The government has designated some of the chemicals, in certain forms,
as hazardous.  All chlorofluorocarbons, which can damage the ozone  layer, are
prohibited in foods, for example.  And NPRs list showed freon,  a CFC, is added
to cigarettes.

Liver Damage
        NPR quoted an independent toxicologist who said two of the chemicals,
ethyl 2-furoate and sclareol, cause liver damage and convulsions in laboratory
animals.  Ethyl 2-furoate also was discussed as  a possible chemical warfare
agent in the 1930s, added Dr. Barry Rumack of  the University of Colorado.
        Rep. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said Friday that within weeks he will introduce
legislation to make the additive list public.
        "It is absolutely unconscionable that this list is kept secret," he
said.  "If the tobacco industry believes that these ingredients are not harmful,
they ought to support my bill so the public can get the list  and decide for
themselves."
        That would open companies up to unfair competition, said Tobacco
Institute spokesman Thomas Lauria.  What goes into cigarettes is a trade secret,
he said.
        The Des Moines Register, Saturday, April 9, 1994, Page 4A.

--- Tabby 3.0
 * Origin: _ZSys_BBS_515/279-3073_D.M.,IA_Silicon_Prairie_v.32 (1:290/2)