In Victory for Public Health, U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Tobacco Industry’s Challenge to Gra
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Posted by: Natalia Gromov
On November 25, In a tremendous victory for public health, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a tobacco industry challenge to graphic health warnings on cigarette packs and advertisements required under a 2020 FDA rule. The court’s decision to deny certiorari leaves in place a March ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit that upheld the FDA’s proposed warnings. The Fifth Circuit found that the warnings are “factual and uncontroversial” and do not violate the First Amendment.
The new warnings are supported by extensive scientific evidence showing that graphic warnings are most effective at increasing public understanding of the dire health consequences of smoking. Because of the tobacco industry’s repeated legal challenges, the U.S. currently ranks last in the world in the size of its cigarette warnings and has fallen behind the 138 countries and territories that require graphic warnings. The Supreme Court’s decision clears the way for the U.S. to catch up with the rest of the world in implementing this lifesaving policy.
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