President Bill Clinton is threatening to block a proposed $368-billion
settlement that could free the tobacco industry from further claims for damages
in American courts. The settlement would, among other things, give the Food and
Drug Administration the power to regulate nicotine as a drug—but only if
it could show that a black market would not develop for cigarettes. Clinton
fears this provision would allow the tobacco industry to escape regulation, and
wants it changed before the settlement becomes law.
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