Congresswoman Gwen Moore Adds Voice to Groundswell of Support for Reducing Nicotine in Cigarettes, Encourages HHS Secretary Becerra to Take Action to Save Lives and End Health Disparities

When Mandate is Implemented, 22nd Century is Fully Prepared to Deliver VLN Reduced Nicotine Content Cigarette, the Only Combustible Product in Line with FDA’s Proposed Nicotine Cap

BUFFALO, N.Y., April 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE American: XXII), a leading plant-based biotechnology company focused on tobacco harm reduction, very low nicotine content tobacco, and hemp/cannabis research, applauds Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI-04) for proactively encouraging the federal government to introduce new legislation that would reduce the level of nicotine content allowed in any cigarette sold in the United States to “minimally or non-addictive” levels. In a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, Rep. Moore states that smoking continues to kill and disable Americans and asked that the HHS use its authority under the Tobacco Control Act to put an end to the damages smoking inflicts on the population.

“22nd Century fully supports Representative Moore, and we are in complete agreement with her powerful message to Secretary Becerra. We appreciate the addition of her voice to those of our leading public health officials urging the federal government to implement a mandate to reduce the amount of nicotine content allowed in combustible cigarettes to ‘minimally or non-addictive’ levels, as proposed in 2017 by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) in its Comprehensive Plan for Tobacco and Nicotine Regulation,” said James A. Mish, chief executive officer of 22nd Century Group. “This development represents more positive news for 22nd Century and all those interested in improving public health. Earlier this month, the New Zealand Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora issued a proposal to reduce nicotine content in all cigarettes sold in that country. And in the U.S., there are reports that the Biden Administration is actively considering introducing a new rule that would require Big Tobacco to reduce the amount of nicotine in all combustible cigarettes sold here. When a rule is published, 22nd Century is fully prepared to partner with the FDA to launch our VLN reduced nicotine content (RNC) cigarette brand, and license our RNC tobacco technology to every cigarette manufacturer in the industry.”