Tobacco - An Overview
If you or a member of your family has contracted lung disease after being deceived regarding the effects of smoking Marlboro Lights, we urge you to contact our Albuquerque firm for information about tobacco class action litigation.
Americans have used tobacco since colonization. For centuries, the full health effects of tobacco were unknown. Many people even believed that tobacco had curative properties.
Today, however, when the dangers of tobacco are thoroughly documented, youth and adults continue to smoke or chew tobacco. The addictive qualities of tobacco are powerful and difficult to overcome. If you or a loved one has been harmed by the use of tobacco, contact an experienced attorney from Will Ferguson & Associates in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to learn your legal options.
he Growing Popularity of Tobacco
Historically, Native Americans used tobacco in a ceremonial and religious context. When the European colonists arrived, they began to use tobacco purely for pleasure. Tobacco was not only fashionable, but the colonists saw it as a good source of cash. Soon they were growing tobacco and exporting it to Europe. Although they started with small crops, farmers in Virginia and other colonies eventually exported more than 1.5 million pounds of tobacco to England each year.
In the 1700s, many countries and even some of the colonies banned smoking, with severe consequences for violations. Most of those bans were eventually lifted, though location-specific bans on smoking flourished. In the 1800s, cancer was more clearly linked to tobacco use, and nicotine was believed by some to be a poison.
Cigarette consumption in the US steadily increased, however, as production became automated. By the 1900s, tobacco farming and cigarette manufacturing were enormous industries in the US and around the world. The incidence of lung cancer in the US rose sharply. At the same time, the use of tobacco, both cigarettes and chewing tobacco, was restricted by many states.
The Health Effects of Tobacco Use
A great change in Americans’ perception of tobacco was brought about by the US Surgeon General’s 1964 report on smoking and health. The report connected smoking to a marked increase in the risk of lung cancer, emphysema, bronchitis and heart disease. It also made the connection between pregnant women who smoked and the low birth weight of their babies. The report was a huge news story and had a significant impact on the future of tobacco use in America.
The year after the report was released, federal law required that cigarette packs display health warnings. In 1970, advertisements for cigarettes were no longer allowed on television or radio.
Tobacco is known to cause the following conditions:
Cancer, particularly of the lung, lip, larynx, oral cavity, esophagus, bladder, cervix and kidney. Respiratory problems, such as chronic obstructive lung disease Coronary heart disease Stroke Low birth weight, stillbirth and SIDS in babies whose mothers smoke during or after pregnancy
Secondhand smoke can cause the same medical problems in people who involuntarily breathe it. The US Surgeon General’s 2006 report on secondhand smoke highlighted the smoking-related, preventable disease and death of people who do not smoke. It argued that indoor smoking should be completely eliminated to protect nonsmokers from exposure to secondhand smoke. Today, almost half of Americans are exposed to secondhand smoke on a regular basis.
Contact an Attorney
Speak with an attorney who has experience in the legal matters surrounding tobacco. An attorney from Will Ferguson & Associates in Albuquerque, New Mexico, can assist you in your pursuit of justice.
DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.