As mentioned previously, the federal government recognizes the harm reducing potential of certain tobacco products through the FDAs Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) application lane
He also penned a manuscript in 1987 that started with this claim: During the last decade and especially in the last few years scientific evidence has been gradually emerging, and now indicates that smoking may in fact provide a net contribution in the prevention of certain diseases and in extending life expectancy. After reviewing the manuscript, another paid consultant, Peter Lee, wrote a confidential letter to a corporate officer at British-American Tobacco, saying, I think the paper is pretty valueless, partly as it is completely unbalanced, partly as the (many) wild claims made are not substantiated by detailed evidence. A critique by a BAT attorney suggests that the company closely monitored the work of its consultants: It obviously needs to be honed into a first-class scientific paper
They also marketed their own discount products
Sickness, Death and the Power of a Lethal Lobby , The Wire, 31 st May, 2016
