22nd Century Launches New RED SUN® Extremely Nicotine Website

RED SUN smokers are unapologetic about smoking and deserve the
best tobacco has to offer.

CLARENCE, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE MKT: XXII),
a plant biotechnology company focused on tobacco, announced today that
the Company has launched a remastered RED SUN website that powerfully
communicates the brand’s new Extremely Nicotine message.
Underpinning the www.redsuncigarettes.com
website – and the brand itself – is RED SUN’s mission: “To give smokers
the BOLDEST, most UNAPOLOGETIC and HIGHEST NICOTINE cigarette in
America!”

“The RED SUN website serves as our Company’s “Ground Zero” of brand
awareness,” explained Nathan P. Schmitt, Director of Marketing for 22nd
Century. “Positioned very much like Red Bull® energy drinks, RED SUN is
a bold, super-premium brand. Consumers have embraced RED SUN; in fact,
as showcased on our website, nearly 200 adult smokers across the country
have become ‘RED SUN extremists’ by tattooing our brand’s logo on their
bodies!”

Though 22nd Century does not encourage non-smokers to start smoking, or
current smokers to smoke more, the Company believes strongly that
consumers should have a choice of nicotine levels between cigarette
brands. The new RED SUN website articulates the brand’s core values
including: Authenticity, Independence, Boldness, and an Unconventional
attitude. Explaining why “More is Better” and the reason behind the
brand’s audacious high nicotine messaging, the RED SUN website declares:
“We own the formula for America’s highest nicotine tobacco! No other
brand can match RED SUN’s EXTREME nicotine! Why is more nicotine better?
RED SUN smokers can enjoy greater satisfaction with every cigarette. Our
smokers are unapologetic about smoking and deserve the best tobacco has
to offer.”

22nd Century’s factory manager, Barry Saintsing is highlighted on the
RED SUN website as the “father of the blend.” Identified as RED SUN’s
Master Tobacconist, Saintsing served 36-years with RJ Reynolds as a
Master Product Developer where he worked to perfect tobacco blends in
the United States and in dozens of other countries around the world.
“The RED SUN blend is carefully balanced to provide smokers with a
powerful, undiluted tobacco taste,” explained Mr. Saintsing. “My work
with RED SUN is especially fulfilling since so many smokers have told me
how much they really like the bold, premium taste that RED SUN delivers.”

A new initiative for the Company is introduced on the website’s “Plant a
Tree” page. 22nd Century is working with four non-profit organizations
(Green Seattle Partnership, The Park People, California ReLeaf, and
Friends of Trees) to plant a tree for every case of RED SUN cigarettes
that is sold. The stated goal of the Company’s new Green Thumb
initiative is to promote urban and community forest renewal and to
improve the natural beauty of urban centers and parks across America.

The RED SUN website address is www.redsuncigarettes.com.
It is open to adults of legal smoking age.

About 22nd Century Group, Inc.

22nd Century is a plant biotechnology company focused on technology
which allows it to increase or decrease the level of nicotine in tobacco
plants and the level of cannabinoids in cannabis plants through genetic
engineering and plant breeding. The Company’s primary mission is to
reduce the harm caused by smoking. 22nd Century currently owns or
exclusively controls more than 200 issued patents and more than 50
pending patent applications around the world. The Company’s strong IP
position led to a licensing agreement with British American Tobacco
(“BAT”), the world’s second largest tobacco company. Visit www.xxiicentury.com
for more information.

RED SUN is a registered trademark of 22nd Century Limited LLC. All other
names and marks are the registered trademarks of their respective owners
and are not affiliated with 22nd Century Limited, or RED SUN cigarettes
in any way.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This
press release contains forward-looking information, including all
statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding the
intent, belief or current expectations of 22nd Century Group, Inc., its
directors or its officers with respect to the contents of this press
release, including but not limited to our future revenue expectations.
The words “may,” “would,” “will,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,”
“believe,” “intend” and similar expressions and variations thereof are
intended to identify forward-looking statements. We cannot guarantee
future results, levels of activity or performance. You should not place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as
of the date that they were made. These cautionary statements should be
considered with any written or oral forward-looking statements that we
may issue in the future. Except as required by applicable law, including
the securities laws of the United States, we do not intend to update any
of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to reflect
actual results, later events or circumstances, or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events. You should carefully review and
consider the various disclosures made by us in our annual report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, filed on February 5,
2015, including the section entitled “Risk Factors,” and our other
reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission which
attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may
affect our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash
flows. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if
the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary
materially from those expected or projected.

Contacts

Investor Relations:
IRTH Communications
Andrew Haag,
866-976-4784
xxii@irthcommunications.com
or
Redington,
Inc.
Tom Redington, 203-222-7399