EDITORIAL – Light cigarettes and light foods don’t offer similar health benefits

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday to uphold a verdict from the Illinois Supreme Court… The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday to uphold a verdict from the Illinois Supreme Court regarding Philip Morris’ “light” cigarettes, according to the Associated Press.

The Illinois Supreme Court threw out a lower-court judgment against the cigarette company last year in a class-action suit. Defendants in the suit claimed that they thought that “light” cigarettes were healthier when, in reality, they were just as bad, if not worse, than regular cigarettes.

Under Illinois state laws, Philip Morris can’t be held responsible for this trivial and potentially misleading classification because the Federal Trade Commission allowed Philip Morris to market and package their products as “light” and “low tar.”

We’re delighted that the U.S. Supreme Court decided to agree with the high court of Illinois on this one. They have far more important things to rule on than this mess, and the people who filed this suit — who were probably out to make a few million dollars from their foolishness — should be ashamed of themselves.

“Light cigarettes” is oxymoronic. No cigarette is good for you. Sure, light potato chips are a little healthier than their original counterparts, but “light” cigarettes are no less deadly than their full-bodied brothers. The “light” qualification isn’t applicable in the same sense when you’re talking about foods and cigarettes. Saying light cigarettes are better for you than other cigarettes is like ordering a Big Mac and a Diet Coke and believing that you’re making healthy decisions. “Light” doesn’t mean you won’t die from lung cancer.

The 1.1 million people involved in this suit shouldn’t be surprised with the ruling. The writing’s on the box. Surgeon General’s warnings on light cigarettes don’t say “These cigarettes are healthier for you.” They all spell out the same doom and gloom that cigarette smoking entails: “Smoking by pregnant women may result in fetal injury, premature birth and low birth rate.” “Cigarettes contain carbon monoxide.” “Smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema and may complicate pregnancy.” “Quitting smoking now greatly reduces serious risks to your health.”

Notice, there are no clauses for “light” cigarette smokers. As far as we’re concerned, it’s pretty much spelled out for smokers.

There are no safe cigarettes and there should be no compensation for people who believed that they were smoking healthy cigarettes — unless there is bulletproof evidence that the population was led to believe that “light” cigarettes are the healthy cigarettes, which they aren’t. Kudos to the U.S. Supreme Court for not rewarding greedy stupidity.