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Though I am not a chemist, it is brutally obvious to me that a tremendous difference 

 exists between those who use legal tobacco products and those whose only concern is 

 how to obtain their next fix of an illegal drug. Our prisons are not currently overflowing 

 because of so-called cigarette addicts who steal, rob, injury and kill in order to obtain 

 their next fix. 



Tobacco growers are law abiding citizens who take umbrage at being associated with the 

 likes of the Columbian drug cartel. And Dr. Kessler would now turn tobacco growers and 

 smokers into criminals Just because they choose to live their lives in a manner other than 

 Dr. Kessler thinks they should. The FDA is directing us down a very serious and 

 treacherous path. Let us not forget that this is an agency that cannot now fulfill its many 

 other responsibilities. 



On behalf of the many small family farmers who proudly grow tobacco in North Carolina's 

 Third Congressional District and support themselves and their families by laboring 

 during the hot and humid eastern North Carolina summers, 1 urge this Subcommittee 

 to join me in providing Commissioner Kessler with the direction he seeks, based on the 

 facts we will hear today. I have no doubt that only conclusion will be to LEAVE 

 TOBACCO ALONE! 



I welcome today's panel of witnesses and cim pleased that top executives of the major 

 cigarette manufacturers have voluntarily agreed to testify, under oath, on the issue of 

 nicotine in cigarettes. I look forward to hearing their testimony as 1 know thej' will 

 provide this Subcommittee £ind Dr. Kessler with a complete picture of the issue instead 

 of the mere conjecture we heard from the FDA a few weeks ago. 



Mr. Chairman, thank you for convening this hearing so that every side of this issue can 

 be properly and fairly aired. 



