Advocates sue as a decision on a proposal to outlaw highly addictive menthol cigarettes lingers.
Adria R Walker reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has considered banning menthol cigarettes for nearly 15 years, projected to save hundreds of thousands of lives.
- Anti-smoking groups have taken legal action against the U.S. government for delaying the ban, despite clear public health benefits.
- Approximately 81% of Black smokers prefer menthol cigarettes, a figure starkly higher than that among white smokers.
Key quote:
"As African American physicians, we are deeply disturbed at the continuing delays in FDA’s finalizing of the ban on menthol cigarettes.”
— Dr. Yolanda Lawson, president of the National Medical Association
Why this matters:
Menthol cigarettes have been aggressively marketed to minority communities, including African Americans, for decades. The minty flavoring and cooling sensation of menthol can mask the harshness of tobacco, making it easier for new smokers to start and harder for existing smokers to quit. This has contributed to higher rates of smoking-related diseases among minority populations.
As the electronic cigarette market continues to grow, a 2019 study linked vaping to heart and mental health impacts.
