Big Tobacco Goes On The Offensive (MO)

Philip Morris USA, part of Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO), has filed a rather interesting lawsuit which could act to set the precedent for case law for years ahead. Big Tobacco asked a federal court to overturn a San Francisco ordinance which would effectively ban the sale of tobacco products in convenience drug stores.

The suit is asking the court in the Northern District of California todelay the enforcement of the ordinance and ultimately to declare itunconstitutional.

The ban was apparently passed by a divided Board of Supervisors and isapparently already the subject of a separate lawsuit pending in statecourt challenging its propriety.

Frankly speaking, there is no reason that these convenience drug storesshould be banned from selling tobacco products.  If you go to the drugstore to buy your cancer treatments, you might as well be able to buyyour cancer there ahead of time.

Jon C. Ogg
September 24, 2008