June 22, 2009 Mixed reaction to tobacco reform bill Play video

(NECN: Ally Donnelly) - Anit-smoking groups are claiming a major victory this afternoon. Today, President Obama signed a bill giving the government new oversight over the tobacco industry.

Talking about getting hooked as a teen and his own struggle to kick the habit, President Obama signed into law what some are hailing as the most significant tobacco reform in decades.

“Finally, Congress has done its job.”

Dr. Nancy Rigotti is the head of the tobacco research and treatment center at Mass General Hospital. She hopes the law will help discourage young and new smokers and help those already addicted to quit.

“For healthcare it's the most important thing. It's the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, still.”

The legislation gives the Food and Drug Administration unprecedented authority to regulate tobacco. In part it will:

• Restrict tobacco advertising, especially to children
• Ban candy and fruit flavors in products
• Require tobacco companies to cover cigarette cartons with large warnings
• Allow the FDA to lower the amount of nicotine allowed in products

But not everyone is championing the law. One expert we talked to says public health advocates sold out for small victories to make a deal with the devil.

“I think it's a huge step backward. I think this is going to be devastating for the public's health.”

Michael Siegel is with the Boston University school of public

health. He says the fact that Philip Morris supported the regulations gave big tobacco a seat at the table and allowed for several loopholes in the legislation.

One being that the FDA can lower, but not ban nicotine outright, meaning smokers would have to smoke more cigarettes to get the most bang for their buck.

On the flavored tobacco issue, menthol is not included in the ban.

“80% Of African American youths smoke menthol brands. There’s no battle over the banana market or the pineapple market for cigarettes, the battle is over the menthol market.”

Siegel says the new law also green lights the first big expansion of the tobacco market in 30 years. Arguing that companies have been waiting to release smokeless and other tobacco products -- which they claim are safer than cigarettes, but need the FDA to back them up, which would also release them from liability should a user get sick.

“Once the FDA makes that approval decision, the cigarette companies are off the hook.”