665 



and the industry responded to it and the consumer demonstrated 

 a preference for it. Isn't that the truth or not? 

 Mr. James Johnston. Tar. Yes, sir. Tar. 



Mr. McMillan. Yes. And tar was the one that was identified as 

 a problem, not nicotine. 

 Mr. James Johnston. That's correct. 



Mr. McMillan. Although there may be some problems with nico- 

 tine taken to excess. Has the government ever attempted to regu- 

 late the amount of nicotine that goes into a cigarette? It requires 

 disclosure, I understand that, but has there ever been an attempt 

 to limit it? 



Mr. James Johnston. Not until recently, there hasn't. Smokers 

 know, have always known that nicotine is part of the natural prod- 

 uct. It's been in the common vernacular for a long time. What has 

 scared smokers out of what are truly hysterical charges being made 

 is that we are somehow adding nicotine to hook them or addict 

 them. 



One simple chart, the Surgeon General's chart shows it's been 

 just the opposite. A two-thirds reduction. We owe it to the Amer- 

 ican people for this subcommittee, after they've done whatever 

 work they need to do, to go on record to say it is not true. We've 

 checked this out, we agree with the tobacco manufacturers, we 

 agree with the Surgeon General of the United States that nicotine 

 has been reduced, not increased. 



Mr. McMillan. Has it ever been the intent of the law to require 

 that tobacco products be sold with a nicotine content less than that 

 naturally occurring in a typical blend of tobacco products or tobacco 

 leaf? 



Mr. Campbell. No, absolutely not. The nicotine has just gone 

 down on its own in response to consumers' interest in these areas. 



Mr. McMillan. Has my time expired or can I continue? 



Mr. Waxman You can take another minute. 



Mr. McMillan. Let me just conclude this round of questioning. 

 I think it's been said, but it's worth repeating. Anyone answer this 

 question. Does anyone produce a tobacco product in which you de- 

 liberately try to engineer a nicotine content in excess of the natural 

 content of the tobacco leaf used in the product? 



Mr. Campbell. Absolutely not. 



Mr. McMillan. In fact, the opposite is true, right? You do engi- 

 neer a product, the filter tip is a case in point, of product that is 

 below the norm that would be contained in the leaf itself 



Mr. Campbell. Dramatically. 



Mr. McMillan, That's a true statement. 



Mr. James Johnston. Dramatically. 



Mr. McMillan. Thank the Chair. 



Mr. Waxman. Thank you, Mr. McMillan. Before I recognize Mr. 

 Synar, just for housekeeping purposes, Mr. Campbell, my staff 

 wanted me to make this very clear for the record. What we're re- 

 questing of you is any report, memorandum or other document de- 

 scribing research conducted by Philip Morris on nicotine and addic- 

 tion, regardless of whether the document shows nicotine is addict- 

 ive or that it is not addictive. 



