FDA and Cigarettes

So many "firsts" going on in America these days... Congress is passing a bill so the Food and Drug Administration can regulate tobacco. But tobacco is not classified as a food or a drug so this is a new one on the FDA

The FDA's role is to regulate food and drugs and deem them safe for use. Tobacco, which would be regulated by the FDA under the bill, is neither food nor drug, and thus constitutes uncharted territory for the FDA. Given how dangerous tobacco is, it's extremely difficult for the FDA to declare tobacco in any way to be safe and maintain its public-health credibility.

Once again, it's always amazing to see what makes it to the top of the Congressional list of things to do.