The Biden Administration has delayed plans to ban menthol cigarettes, a proposal announced by the Food and Drug Administration years ago. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra stated that more conversations need to take place before the ban can be implemented, and this will require additional time. The proposed ban was aimed at improving the health of populations most likely to smoke menthol cigarettes, including children and Black Americans. Black smokers are significantly more likely to use menthol cigarettes compared to white smokers, with nearly 85% of Black smokers using them. Black men have the highest lung cancer death rate in the U.S., highlighting the urgency of implementing the ban to address health disparities within the population.
The delay in the menthol cigarette ban by the Biden Administration has raised concerns about the potential impact on Black voters leading up to a contentious presidential election. This delay comes after the FDA announced plans to ban menthol tobacco cigarettes in 2021 and proposed rules for the ban in 2022. The ban has already faced delays, with promises of implementation by the end of the previous year falling through. Advocates working to remove menthol products from the market have expressed frustration with the Administration’s inaction, highlighting the missed opportunity to reduce death and disease associated with tobacco use. The American Heart Association CEO, Nancy Brown, criticized the Administration for allowing the tobacco industry to continue marketing these harmful products and attracting new users.
The American Lung Association’s President and CEO, Harold Wimmer, expressed dismay over the ongoing delays in implementing the menthol cigarette ban. Wimmer emphasized the potential impact of ending the sale of menthol cigarettes on reducing health inequities related to tobacco product use in the U.S. Anti-smoking and health advocates, including the executive director of Action on Smoking and Health, Laurent Huber, and the co-chair of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council, Carol McGruder, voiced disappointment with the Administration’s decision to delay the ban. McGruder criticized the Administration for not prioritizing the health of Black Americans by allowing the continued sale of menthol cigarettes, which have been targeted at the community by the tobacco industry for decades.
It is evident that implementing the ban on menthol cigarettes is crucial to addressing health disparities and reducing tobacco-related illnesses and deaths, particularly among Black Americans. The delay in enacting the ban by the Biden Administration has sparked frustration and concern among anti-smoking and health advocates who see the ban as a critical step towards improving public health. The impact of the delay on Black voters and the overall health of the population remains a point of contention as discussions continue around the ban. Moving forward, it is important for the Administration to prioritize public health and address the urgent need to remove menthol cigarettes from the market to protect vulnerable populations and reduce the harmful effects of tobacco use.
