San Francisco -- One of the tobacco industry's biggest foes can pursue his anti-smoking crusade from his post as a professor at the University of California at San Francisco, the state Court of Appeal has ruled.

Californians for Scientific Integrity, a group with close ties to the cigarette companies, had sued the university, contending that the public institution was misusing taxpayer money to support Stanton Glantz, a professor of medicine, and his assault on the tobacco industry. But the Court of Appeal in Sacramento ruled Thursday that Glantz was using public funds to promote a legitimate state goal of obtaining a ``smoke-free society.'' The three-judge panel also found that Glantz's efforts are protected by the First Amendment, which allows government officials to express their opinions about public issues.

<< Prev	CIGoutlet.NET News Home	Next >>