The Biden Regime on Thursday moved to ban menthol cigarettes.
The Food and Drug Administration announced a plan to ban menthol cigarettes which are primarily used by blacks and other racial minorities.
“Today, more than 85 percent of Black smokers choose menthol cigarettes — almost three times the proportion for White smokers.” the Washington Post reported.
Today, we’re proposing product standards to prohibit menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes and prohibit all characterizing flavors (other than tobacco) in cigars. https://t.co/Uh5pSdtLnY pic.twitter.com/2GCr6XgAlG
— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) April 28, 2022
Fox News reported:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released its plan to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars on Thursday, saying the actions have the potential to significantly reduce disease and death.
The menthol product standard will reduce the appeal of cigarettes — particularly to youth and young adults — and improve the health and reduce the mortality risk of current menthol cigarette smokers by decreasing cigarette consumption and increasing the likelihood of cessation.
Menthol has particularly high rates of use by youth, young adults and African Americans and other racial and ethnic groups.
The FDA said eliminating menthol cigarettes could prevent between 300,000 and 650,000 smoking deaths over 40 years.
The FDA noted that it cannot and will not enforce against individual consumers for the possession or use of menthol cigarettes or flavored cigars.
Should the rules be finalized and implemented, FDA enforcement will only address manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, importers and retailers who manufacture, distribute or sell such products within the U.S. that are not in compliance with applicable requirements.
Notably, state and local law enforcement agencies do not independently enforce the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and do not – and cannot – take enforcement actions against any violation of FDA’s tobacco authorities, including its regulations, on the FDA’s behalf.