Philip Morris President equates nicotine with gummy bears

James J. Morgan, president of Philip Morris Companies, said in a 1997 sworn courtroom testimony that tobacco is no more addictive than Gummy Bears candy. Asked by attorney Stanley M. Rosenblatt if he believes nicotine is addictive, Morgan responded,

Pharmacologically, my answer is no. If they are behaviorally addictive or habit forming, they are much more like caffeine, or in my case, Gummy Bears. I love Gummy Bears...and I want Gummy Bears, and I like Gummy Bears,and I eat Gummy Bears, and I don't like it when I don't eat my Gummy Bears, but I'm certainly not addicted to them.

Title SMOKING-GUMMY BEARS, 0435 PHILIP MORRIS PREZ: SMOKING NO MORE ADDICTIVE THAN GUMMY BEARS Org. Author ASSOCIATED PRESS Date 19970502 Type COMP, COMPUTER PRINTOUT ; NEWS, NEWS ARTICLE Bates 2078314121 Master Bates 2078314119/4121 Collection Philip Morris Pages 1 URL: http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/kyc70c00