45 years ago - January 11, 1964 - Luther Terry, Surgeon General Report..

January 11,2009 - January 11, 1964, the U.S. Surgeon General, through his Advisory Committee on Smoking and Health, released the report “Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the United States.”

After reviewing over 7,000 medical journal articles, the report made by U.S. Surgeon General Luther Leonidas Terry stated, “Cigarette smoking is a health hazard of sufficient importance in the United States to warrant appropriate remedial action."

This report is considered that first widely-publicized report by the federal government that cigarette smoking is harmful to the health of humans. Dr. Luther Terry, unequivocally warned the American public for the first time of the dangers of cigarette smoking, one major organization failed to support this stand - the American Medical Association.

More - The 1964 Report on Smoking and Health..

Reference: 45 years ago: U.S. makes first health warning on smokin by William Atkins, iTWIRE, 1/12/2009.