The Biden Administration Is Expected To Ban Menthol Cigarettes
They also seek to ban menthol cigars.
is expected to propose a ban on menthol cigarettes and menthol cigars sometime this week.
The Washington Post first reported that an anonymous administration official disclosed the plan. It's reportedly been encouraged by anti-tobacco organizations such as STOP for years now—they claim that the tobacco industry has been strategically marketing menthol products in African-American communities across the country.
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A study done by the American Lung Association found that three in four African American smokers prefer menthol cigarettes, and states that the type of cigarette makes it easier to start smoking and even harder to quit.
The ban, rather than requiring the approval of Congress, would task the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with creating new rules and considering public concerns. The FDA reportedly plans on doing this Thursday, as they are required by a court to respond to a 2013 petition to ban menthol cigarettes.
This would not be the first time that the government has taken action against the sale of tobacco products in recent years. The Trump administration issued a ban on flavored e-cigarette pods in late 2019 after reports showed an increase in young smokers.