David A. Kessler

In the following viewpoint David A. Kessler argues that because nicotine is a drug, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates all legal addictive drugs, should regulate tobacco products. Further, he maintains that FDA regulation of tobacco should aim to limit marketing to youth and work toward removing harmful ingredients from tobacco products. Adequate funding for smoking-cessation research and the development of safer cigarettes should also be part of FDA guidelines, he contends. David A. Kessler, former commissioner of the FDA, is dean of Yale Medical School.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Kessler, what was the only part of the tobacco legislation before Congress that was not challenged?
2. What does the Supreme Court fear the FDA would do to cigarettes if the agency was allowed to...