Talk:Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement/Archives/2012

Yes, a confusing article...
The Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) is an agreement that was signed in November 1998 by the attorneys general in 46 states and five U.S. territories and the tobacco industry. The agreement effectively settled lawsuits filed against the tobacco industry and provided funds to the states to compensate them for taxpayer monies spent treating tobacco-related diseases. The settlement monies were also marked for the creation of the American Legacy Foundation to help reduce tobacco use and smoking especially among youth. Among many provisions, the agreement required that tobacco billboard advertising be taken down, that tobacco companies stop using cartoon characters to sell cigarettes (like Joe Camel), and that tobacco companies make a majority of their internal documents available to the public through a physical paper depository in Minnesota as well as web sites dedicated to providing access to these internal documents.

The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) has the responsibility for oversight and enforcement of the MSA provisions and they attempt to make sure the tobacco companies are in compliance with the mandates.

I hope this answers some of your questions!

Racheltaketa 23:14, 31 May 2007 (UTC)

Amounts
How much is actually paid each year? -- Beland 23:37, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

Senate hearings
Should there be mention of the hearings before the Senate with the tobacco executives? The one where all of them publicly testified that nicotine isn't addictive. klosterdev (talk) 15:08, 12 October 2008 (UTC)

Why are people with tobacco related disease being denied help?
The case is supposed to provide monies toward healthcare for persons with tobacco related health problems. Many are able to prove direct links to those problems. Not only are they being denied any help at all including smoking cessation, but are not allowed to try to get compensation from tobacco industry. General statements are made about monies going to healthcare and education but no specifics are ever shown. I personally have Buerger's disease and have actually had Illinois state and U.S. federal agents and agencies inform me that I'm not that bad and try to bar my own medical records as proof. You can't have it both ways, either use the BILLIONS for medical care as intended or give it back. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.74.20.244 (talk) 09:45, 2 April 2009 (UTC)

All this settlement was is an extortion by the federal government to get trillions of dollars and to charge higher taxes on cigarettes. The gov't doesn't care about people, they only care that they extorted the money from the tobacco companies and used the facade that it would "help" people if they did so. This all despite the fact that people CHOOSE to smoke on their own free will, and thus should suffer the consequences of their own chosen actions. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.29.211.131 (talk) 06:20, 29 June 2009 (UTC)

Well I would put an asterisk after that CHOOSE. It is common knowledge that A.) Nicotine is addicting and B.) Cigarette companies purposefully manipulate nicotine levels to keep people addicted. It is very hard to stop smoking after one has done so for so long. Also, if there is a way to not suffer the consequences most people will take that option. What you are saying sounds ridiculous. If a cure for lung cancer was found tomorrow would you seriously not approve of it because those with lung cancer "should suffer the consequences." —Preceding unsigned comment added by 158.65.143.22 (talk) 19:51, 1 December 2009 (UTC)


 * Um, I'm confused as to how this section helps improve the article? Anyone with more cited info can of course improve the article.  I suggest that there may be other articles, such as oh say, "Nicotine", that may already contain the information being discussed here.  &mdash;Aladdin Sane (talk) 20:20, 1 December 2009 (UTC)

If there is a cure for lung cancer that is found, smokers should have access to it, but it is still a person's choice to smoke and to try to quit once they start. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.31.255.73 (talk) 10:21, 7 October 2012 (UTC)