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Mr. ICessler. I have never said that, Congressman. I have never 

 used the word "spiking." I have never even talked about denatured 

 alcohol. 



Mr. Bliley. Then how did you arrive at your statement to the 

 smoking people on February the 25th that the manufacturers may 

 be spiking their cigarettes? 



Mr. Kessler. First of all, I didn't use the word "spiking," Con- 

 gressman, and I would be happy to go through my testimony again, 

 but it was rather lengthy. 



Mr. Bliley. All right, I will go through it, too; and if I find it, 

 I will be back in touch with you. 



When you were — at the invitation of Philip Morris, when you 

 sent your people down to their plant in Richmond, did they observe 

 anybody adding nicotine to the cigarettes? 



Mr. Kessler. Mr. Chairman, if you would like me to talk about 

 one company, I would be happy to do that, but I am trying to stay 

 away from talking specifically about individual companies. Philip 

 Morris was very kind. They allowed us in for a courtesy visit. Our 

 people sat and talked and learned a lot about the tobacco industry. 

 I would be happy to share that with you. But again I am not pre- 

 pared to do that today. 



We have taken certain samples, we have learned certain things 

 and talked to certain people. I think it is very important before we 

 reach any conclusions to the questions that we raise today, we need 

 not to just talk to any one company. We need to know what is 

 going on in the industry across the board. 



Mr. Bliley. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Waxman. Thank you, Mr. Bliley. 



Mr. Synar. 



Mr. Synar. I might remind all of those that are listening, who 

 think that we are beating up on the industry, that the chairman 

 of this subcommittee invited both Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds 

 to be with us; and as the chairman pointed out, they chose not to 

 do so, which speaks volumes about their interest and sincerity in 

 the issue. 



Dr. Kessler, you said on the very last page of your testimony, 

 and I think it is a very important statement, "in these issues we 

 seek guidance from Congress." 



Let's summarize, if we can, really what this debate has come 

 down to. You really have two options if you determine nicotine is 

 a drug. You will have to ban the product unless it can be shown 

 that it can be applied safely and effectively in curing some type of 

 disease, or you will be able to regulate it; is that correct? 



Mr. Kessler. The tools are limited. Yes. 



Mr. Synar. And so what you need from us is some guidance on 

 what we think is appropriate for this product? 



Mr. Kessler. We have asked for that guidance, Congressman. 



Mr. Synar. Many of us who have been engaged in this issue, Mr. 

 Waxman and Mr. Durbin and Mr. Wyden and I have said that ban- 

 ning this product would be cruel and unusual punishment to the 

 50 million smokers in this country, to tobacco users, because the 

 evidence — unsurmountable evidence now, is that they are addicted 

 to a very serious drug. That is why we have favored the legislation 



