US Appeals Court Upholds Graphic Cigarette Warning Labels

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals rules that graphic images on cigarette packs do not violate the First Amendment, dismissing industry challenges.

A federal appeals court has ruled that cigarette packs must include graphic images showing the effects of smoking, which does not breach the First Amendment.
The decision was a partial win for regulators seeking to enforce stricter warning labels on cigarette packaging.
The ruling overturns a lower court's decision that found the graphic warning requirements unconstitutional.
Studies suggest that graphic warning labels are more effective than text warnings in communicating smoking risks and encouraging smokers to quit.
The tobacco industry's challenge regarding the rule's adoption under the Administrative Procedure Act is still pending.