Public health advocates have criticized the Joe Biden administration for delaying a ban on menthol cigarettes, which they say endangers the health of numerous Americans.
The White House secretly amended the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs website on Wednesday, hinting that the menthol ban would not be decided until March. The ban on menthol cigarettes from shop shelves was supposed to be implemented by the end of December.
In this photo illustration, menthol cigarettes sit on a table on April 28, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to ban both menthol-flavored cigarettes and flavored cigars in a move hailed by public health experts which could potentially lead to 1.3 million people quitting smoking.
Grave Dangers of Menthol Cigarettes
Over the past decade, public health groups like the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and the American Lung Association have called for menthol cigarette bans. These organizations claim that younger smokers prefer the cooling effect in menthol cigarettes, as per a UPI report.
Menthol smokers are less likely to quit smoking, according to the CDC. Based on FDA statistics, approximately 85% of black smokers use menthol, compared to 30% of white smokers. The FDA is considering banning flavored cigars and limiting cigarette nicotine levels.
"Largely because of menthol cigarettes, black Americans have a harder time quitting smoking and die at higher rates from tobacco-related diseases like cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Research shows that prohibiting menthol cigarettes will save up to 654,000 lives within 40 years, including the lives of 255,000 black Americans," Yolonda Richardson, the president and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, noted in a statement, as quoted by NBC News.
Moreover, according to the World Health Organization, second-hand smoke from cigarette use in confined rooms may cause heart disease and lung cancer. About 1.3 million premature deaths occur each year as a result of second-hand smoke exposure, the UN health agency noted.
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Menthol Cigarette Ban Could Hurt US Economy
RJ Reynolds, the nation's biggest menthol brand, claims that a menthol prohibition will hurt small companies, reduce tax income, and create a hazardous underground market. The firm claims a ban violates science and the FDA's purpose of minimizing tobacco's health risks.
Despite concerns about losing Black votes, Delmonte Jefferson, executive director of the Center for Black Health & Equity, argues that prioritizing public health over menthol cigarettes is a necessary step.
"When you ban menthol, you're going to save black lives. You mess with the black vote when you say, 'I don't value your life; I don't value your health," he said, as quoted by US News & World Report.
Health officials, such as Emily Holubowich, the American Heart Association's national senior vice president of federal advocacy, express deep disappointment over the delay imposed by the Biden administration. Holubowich emphasizes the detrimental impact of menthol cigarettes on public health, stating, "We know these products kill."
Meanwhile, Chrissie Juliano, executive director of the Big Cities Health Coalition, rejects claims that a menthol ban would criminalize black smokers, clarifying that the regulations focus on manufacturing and distribution rather than individual enforcement. Juliano asserts that eliminating menthol as a flavor is crucial for reducing tobacco-related diseases and deaths.
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