# Supreme Court Divided on Roundup Cancer Lawsuit
The Supreme Court appears split over a major case involving Roundup, the herbicide made by Bayer. The decision will affect thousands of pending lawsuits claiming the weedkiller causes cancer.
Roundup contains glyphosate, the world's most widely used herbicide. Plaintiffs argue exposure to the chemical increases cancer risk, particularly non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Bayer acquired Roundup's maker, Monsanto, in 2018 and inherited the litigation.
The justices signaled deep disagreement during oral arguments. Some expressed concern that allowing these cases to proceed could open floodgates of similar claims. Others worried that blocking them would deny injured people access to courts.
The core issue involves whether federal pesticide regulations preempt state-level cancer lawsuits. Bayer argues the EPA's approval of glyphosate prevents individual states from setting stricter standards. Plaintiffs' attorneys counter that federal approval doesn't eliminate state liability claims.
The EPA maintains glyphosate is safe for human use. However, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified it as "probably carcinogenic" in 2015. This scientific disagreement underlies the legal dispute.
A ruling is expected by June 2024. The outcome determines whether the thousands of pending cases proceed to trial or face dismissal.