R.J. Reynolds Changes Cigarette Mailing Procedure January 9, 2001
News Summary
Under pressure from state officials, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company will significantly alter its procedures for mailing cigarettes to consumers, the Associated Press reported Jan. 5.Calif. Attorney General Bill Lockyer complained that the tobacco company mailed cigarettes to homes where children could have access to the mail. The procedure went against California law and other tobacco settlements.
Under the new agreement approved in San Diego Superior Court, R.J. Reynolds will mail free cigarettes only to adults who sign up to receive them for evaluation or testing purposes. In addition, the settlement limits how many cigarette packs can be sent, and requires that the company report to the state how many cigarettes it mails.
"It has long been RJ Reynold's policy that to mail anything, a person must have indicated that they want to hear from us," said Guy M. Blynn, a vice president and general counsel for the company. "We're pleased we were able to resolve what turned out to be very minor differences."
Arizona announced a similar agreement with the company last week.
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