Neil Benowitz, M.D.
Plaintiffs' Expert Witness
Neil Benowitz, M.D., is a professor of medicine, psychiatry, and pharmaceutical science, and chief of the clinical pharmacology division in the department of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. As is undisputed by the defendant in this case, Dr. Benowitz is recognized as a leading researcher in the field of nicotine, addiction, and compensatory smoking. He is the sole author of the chapter on compensatory smoking in the National Cancer Institute’s Monograph 13.
Dr. Benowitz testified as to the addictive nature of nicotine and cigarette smoking; the pharmacologic effects of nicotine on the brain; and the degree and duration of compensatory smoking behavior. His opinion is that compensation is complete and long-term for virtually all members of the class and that all members of the class are exposed to the same levels of tar and nicotine from Marlboro Lights and Cambridge Lights as they would be from regular Marlboro or Cambridge cigarettes.