Pubdate: Wed, 23 Sep 1998
Date: 09/23/1998
Source: Times-Press-Recorder (CA)
Author: Bill Denneen

To the Editor:

Corporations can be disolved if they have acted against the public
interest. A few states (New York and Alabama) are now invoking this
law against tobacco companies.

Cigarette-related healthcare problems are estimated at $72.7 billion a
year in the U.S. with $8.7 billion being California's share. Tobacco
industries have purchased elected officials for years and pay
lobbyists $10 million to $14 million a year to push their addictive,
killer drug.

What disturbes me is I could legally return to my addiction of 35
years ago but would run into trouble if I grew marijuana for my
glaucoma. Let's at least treat nicotine like other less dangerous
drugs (or legalize them).

Bill Denneen

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