House passes tobacco control act, giving regulation powers to FDA

WASHINGTON The House passed sweeping legislation to regulate tobacco Wednesday.

In a 326-102 vote, 230 Democrats and 96 Republicans voted in favor of the Family Smoking and Tobacco Control Act. The act would not ban tobacco or nicotine, but it would require reduction or elimination of carcinogenic chemicals in cigarette smoke, strengthen advertising restrictions and ban candy-flavored cigarettes and cigars while also giving the Food and Drug Administration the power to ban menthol.

The bill’s passage follows the San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ approval of a law that would ban tobacco sales in pharmacies.