1. K. Michael Cummings, Ph.D., M.P.H.,
2. Andrew Hyland, Ph.D.,
3. Maansi A. Bansal, M.S. and
4. Gary A. Giovino, Ph.D.

1. Department of Health Behavior, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, Roswell Park Cancer Institute Buffalo, NY

1. Correspondence K. Michael Cummings, Ph.D., M.P.H., Department of Health Behavior, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263 USA Tel. 1 (716) 845 8456 Fax 1 (716) 845 8487 E mail at

• Received September 5, 2003.
• Accepted January 26, 2004.

Abstract

The present study examined the extent to which Marlboro Lights smokers perceive lower health risks associated with using a low tar cigarette and the extent to which they are aware of filter vents in their cigarettes. The data for this study came from a nationally representative random digit dialed telephone survey of 1,046 adult current cigarette smokers (aged 18 years or older) conducted between May and September 2001. Respondents were asked about the brand and type of cigarettes smoked, beliefs about the health benefits associated with low tar and filtered cigarettes, and awareness of ventilation holes in the filters of their cigarettes. Marlboro Lights was the most popular brand, smoked by 19% of survey respondents. Only 32% of Marlboro Lights smokers reported that the filters on their cigarettes were ventilated. Many Marlboro Lights smokers believed incorrectly that lower tar, light, and ultra light cigarettes were less harmful compared with higher tar, full flavored cigarettes. For example, only 11% of Marlboro Lights smokers knew that the tar delivery of a light cigarette was about the same as that of a full flavored cigarette. The responses of Marlboro Lights smokers to questions about the hazards of low tar cigarettes were similar to those expressed by smokers of other cigarette brands. The data presented in this paper reveal that smokers of the leading light cigarette brand sold in the United States today, Marlboro Lights, are for the most part unaware of filter vents in the cigarettes they smoke and are misinformed about the health risk of using low tar and filtered cigarettes.

• 2004 Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco

Marlboro m brand marijuana cigarette rumors, weed a hoax despite colorado legalization [update] : offbeat : classicalite

Injuries from e-cigarettes increase amid rising popularity
//“Phillip Morris, the world’s biggest cigarette producer, announced today that they will join the marijuana legalization bandwagon and start producing marijuana cigarettes. To be marketed under the brand ‘Marlboro M,’ it will be made available for sale through marijuana licensed outlets in the state of Colorado, and Washington when it becomes commercially legal later this year.”

What really should have tipped readers off to the fraud, however, was the following paragraph, where the author claimed that Serafin Norcik (fictional VP of Marketing for Phillip Morris) was turning to drug lords for assistance

“Norcik added that they have begun contacting former drug lords in Mexico and Paraguay, currently the largest marijuana producing countries in the world, for the possibility of setting up a distribution ring across the North and South American continents, to streamline the supply lines.”

According to Snopes, this isn’t the first time that Marlboro has been considering an entry into the drug world. In fact, this has been going on for over 50 years

“At least as far back as the 1960s, rumors have circulated that major tobacco companies were preparing to enter the marijuana cigarette market in anticipation of the imminent legalization of pot in the U.S., buying up marijuana fields in Mexico, designing new cigarette packages, and trademarking potential brand names such as ‘Panama Red’ and ‘Acapulco Gold.'”

What do you think about the hoax? Did they fool you? Should a major cigarette producer enter the drug game?

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