A Tobacco Plant's Purpose

SOURCE: http://www.knowabouthealth.com

SOURCE: Targeted News Service, FDA Issues Final Rule for Clarification of When Products Made or Derived From Tobacco Are Regulated as Drugs, https://search.proquest.com/researchlibraryprep/docview/1856834445/3C77E8F800F4986PQ/8?accountid=6222

NOTES FROM SOURCE:
"[...] the product is intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention ofdisease; or [...] the product is intended to affect the structure or any function of the body in any way that is different from effects related to nicotine"

The economic principle I’m exploring is: 
“People generally respond to incentives in predictable ways. Institutions are the “rules of the game” that influence choices.”

My research question to help me study the economic principle is: “What is the (intended) purpose of tobacco?”

The article published in Targeted News Service titled “FDA Issues Final Rule for Clarification of When Products Made or Derived From Tobacco Are regulated as Drugs” demonstrates this economic principle because it shows the intended use for Tobacco products.

First, the article breaks down most of the "definitions" of a tobacco plant. For example, it explains the medical definition and the definition of a tobacco product. This is important because tobacco has different uses. It can have a recreational use and a medical use.

Second, the article breaks down the process of how the FDA chooses the intended purpose of a certain tobacco plant. This process takes into account "the product's labeling, promotional claims, and advertising". This shows us how the FDA explicitly tells tobacco product manufacturers what their use for the product is going to be. 

Third, the article shows that the FDA allows for comments about their rules to be made so that the FDA themselves can respond. This important because this allows for any clarifications to be made. It also allows for critique by manufacturers as well as by advocacy groups to be heard.

In my next blog post I will research: Why do people buy cigarettes?