{"id":2087563,"date":"2023-11-02T05:11:01","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T09:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-menthol-cigarette-ban-slammed-as-retributive-by-black-officers-and-drug-experts\/"},"modified":"2023-11-02T05:16:30","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T09:16:30","slug":"biden-menthol-cigarette-ban-slammed-as-retributive-by-black-officers-and-drug-experts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-menthol-cigarette-ban-slammed-as-retributive-by-black-officers-and-drug-experts\/","title":{"rendered":"Black officers and drug experts criticize Biden&#8217;s menthol cigarette ban as &#8216;retributive&#8217;."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbiden-menthol-cigarette-ban-slammed-as-retributive-by-black-officers-and-drug-experts%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2087563&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>President Biden to Implement National\u2063 Ban on Menthol Cigarettes and Flavored\u200d Cigars<\/h2>\n<p>President Joe Biden is set to introduce a nationwide ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored \u2062cigars, a move that has sparked\u200c intense debate among black law enforcement officers and drug policy\u2062 experts. Despite \u2064being\u2064 touted as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cdc-exposed-inflated-covid-deaths-by-1600-throughout-the-election-violated-multiple-federal-laws-peer-reviewed-study-findsstate-local-governments-must-act\/\" title=\"CDC Exposed: Inflated Covid Deaths By 1600% Throughout The Election, \u201cViolated Multiple Federal Laws\u201d Peer-Reviewed Study Finds\u2026State, Local Governments Must Act\">public health initiative<\/a>, the ban has faced \u2064opposition due \u200bto concerns\u2064 about its\u2064 potential \u2063discriminatory effects.<\/p>\n<p>The ban, which has been in development since spring 2021, was recently sent\u200b to the White House Office\u200c of\u200c Management and Budget by the\u2063 Food and Drug Administration. It is expected to be\u2063 finalized within the next 30-90 \u2064days and could be published as early as November 13.<\/p>\n<h3>Health Advocates Support the Ban, But Critics Raise Concerns<\/h3>\n<p>Advocates for healthcare argue that menthol cigarettes contribute to\u200b a disproportionate number of cancer-related deaths\u200c in the black community,\u2062 with black and Latino individuals accounting for approximately 80% of consumers. However, \u2062experts have voiced their reservations about\u2064 the ban, \u2062claiming \u200dthat it fails to provide adequate cessation options and support programs. They argue that this oversight may lead smokers to \u2062turn to\u2064 illicit cigarettes \u200bon the black market instead of quitting altogether.<\/p>\n<p>While all experts interviewed condemn tobacco use, they suggest that offering\u200d regulated tobacco options, \u2064along\u200d with education\u2064 and counseling, would\u200b be a more effective approach. They caution against pushing individuals towards unregulated contraband, which is \u200doften sourced from \u200bChina.<\/p>\n<p>The White House has chosen not to respond\u2064 to criticisms \u2064of the ban.<\/p>\n<h3>Law Enforcement Groups Were Not Consulted<\/h3>\n<p>Elliott Boyce, a 35-year veteran of the New York State Police and director of \u2064Diverse Perspectives, \u2064expressed disappointment that law\u200d enforcement groups were not consulted during the rulemaking \u2064process. Boyce, along with representatives from various law\u2063 enforcement organizations, including the \u2062National Association of\u2062 Black Law Enforcement Officers and the International Association\u200c of Chiefs of Police, were not involved in\u200c the ban&#8217;s development.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;[Menthol] becomes contraband, and now it becomes \u200ca cop issue,&#8221; Boyce said. &#8220;You ban it \u2063so\u200d you can&#8217;t buy it from the corner store. Massachusetts and California have already proven that the \u200cban on menthol cigarettes has not stopped cigarette smoking, so now it&#8217;s going to be forcing individuals to go to the streets to buy \u200dcigarettes from their \u2062trunks to individuals&#8217; \u2062cars.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Boyce warns that the ban \u2062may \u2064lead to an increase in\u2062 black\u200d market demand, creating challenges for law enforcement without clear guidelines. He believes\u200b that transforming a health issue into\u200c a criminal \u2063issue without proper guidance\u200b for\u200b police officers will result in dangerous \u2062encounters and a rise in crime.<\/p>\n<h3>Skewed Statistics and Unintended Consequences<\/h3>\n<p>Boyce and Art Way, a senior drug policy manager at the Drug Policy Alliance, argue that \u2063the \u200dban&#8217;s proponents rely on skewed statistics that fail to account\u2062 for the decrease in smoking among young people,\u2062 both within and outside the black community, in recent decades.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;Education, treatment, and \u2063counseling have been reducing the number of individuals \u200cwho are smoking. That \u200cnumber is at an\u2063 all-time low. I believe you also find that this is the best avenue because young adults are not\u200d smoking \u200ccigarettes. This \u2063choice to do this is not going to be effective,&#8221; Boyce stated.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Way\u2064 adds\u2063 that the ban \u2062reflects a lack of comprehensive\u200b thinking in public policy.\u200b While aimed \u2062at\u2064 helping the black community, it\u2064 may inadvertently harm them by creating an illicit market and potentially leading to \u200bencounters\u200c with law enforcement.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;We have\u2062 to \u2062be \u200con the lookout for \u200dsome problems with police. You know, you&#8217;re essentially creating contraband, and even though the FDA isn&#8217;t looking to \u2064punish\u2063 users \u2064criminally, \u200dyou know, police \u200ccould use this as a way to stop and \u200cinterrogate people. Local\u2062 jurisdictions could \u2064add their own criminal laws,&#8221; Way cautioned.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Way questions the necessity of making menthol \u200dcigarettes valuable on the underground market when only a \u2062small percentage of African\u2064 American youth smoke them. He\u200c believes that progress is being made \u200bin reducing tobacco use and questions the ban&#8217;s lack \u2063of cessation\u2063 support, suggesting that it may be more symbolic \u200cand politically motivated than genuinely helpful.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, the ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars proposed by President Biden has sparked a contentious debate, with \u200d<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-menthol-cigarette-ban-slammed-as-retributive-by-black-officers-and-drug-experts\/\" title=\"Black officers and drug experts criticize Biden's menthol cigarette ban as 'retributive'.\">advocates emphasizing \u200dpublic\u2064 health \u200bconcerns<\/a> \u2062and critics raising concerns about unintended consequences and potential discrimination.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What alternative policy approaches have been suggested as alternatives to the \u200dban \u200con menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars,\u2062 and how might these\u2062 approaches address public health\u2063 concerns while minimizing unintended consequences<\/h2>\n<p><span>  In unintended consequences and potential friction between law enforcement and the\u2063 community they serve.<\/p>\n<h3>Possible Impact on Crime Rates and\u200d Racial Profiling Concerns<\/h3>\n<p>The ban\u2062 on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars has raised concerns about potential \u2063increases in crime rates and racial \u2062profiling. Critics\u2062 argue that law enforcement officers may <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/north-carolina-republicans-override-democrat-governor-vetoes-on-election-bills\/\" title=\"NC Republicans override Dem governor vetoes on election bills.\">disproportionately target minority communities<\/a>, leading to an escalation in\u2063 interactions between police and individuals from marginalized backgrounds.<\/p>\n<p>Racial profiling has been a \u2062longstanding\u2062 issue in\u2064 the United \u2063States, with numerous \u2063cases of discrimination and abuse based on race. Critics\u2064 worry that the ban on menthol \u200bcigarettes could provide law enforcement with another reason to target\u2064 black and \u2064Latino individuals,\u2062 perpetuating existing racial biases and prejudices.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the \u2064ban may\u2064 inadvertently create a thriving black market for menthol cigarettes \u2064and flavored cigars. This underground\u2062 market could lead to increased criminal activity and violence, as individuals seek to profit\u200b from the illegal sale of these products.<\/p>\n<h3>Policy Alternatives to Consider<\/h3>\n<p>Critics of the ban propose alternative policy \u200bapproaches \u2063to address the public health \u200dconcerns related to menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. One suggestion is\u200d the implementation of stricter regulations and labeling requirements for these products, ensuring that consumers are fully aware of the potential health risks they \u200cpose.<\/p>\n<p>Another approach\u200c is to focus on comprehensive education and cessation\u200c programs that equip individuals\u2064 with the \u200dnecessary tools to quit smoking. By providing resources such\u2064 as counseling\u2064 and\u2063 nicotine replacement therapies, the government can support \u200bsmokers in their journey \u200dtowards a tobacco-free life.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, experts emphasize the importance of addressing\u200b the root causes of tobacco addiction, including socioeconomic disparities and lack of access to healthcare. By addressing these underlying issues, it may \u200cbe possible \u200dto reduce smoking rates and improve \u2063public health outcomes within minority communities.<\/p>\n<h3>The Need \u2063for Constructive Dialogue<\/h3>\n<p>The ban on \u2062menthol cigarettes \u2063and flavored cigars \u200chas ignited a contentious \u2063debate,\u2062 highlighting the complexities and\u200c potential\u200d unintended consequences\u200c of public health policies. It is crucial for stakeholders, including the government, law enforcement, healthcare professionals,\u200c and community members, to engage in constructive dialogue and \u2063collaboration.<\/p>\n<p>By actively involving all parties in the decision-making \u200cprocess, potential pitfalls and unintended consequences \u200ccan be identified and mitigated. \u2063This\u2062 approach ensures that policies\u200d are \u200cinformed, inclusive, and \u2064ultimately successful in promoting public health while safeguarding individual rights and minimizing discrimination.<\/p>\n<p>As the ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars progresses, it is imperative \u2063to \u200cprioritize the health and well-being of communities \u2063while striving\u2064 for equitable and\u200c effective solutions. Only through open and respectful dialogue can we\u200b move forward towards a healthier\u2063 and more inclusive society.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>President Joe Biden plans to implement a nationwide prohibition on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. Despite being promoted as a public health measure, this move faces strong opposition from certain black law enforcement officers and drug policy experts. The ban has been under development since spring 2021.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2087564,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2087563","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2087563","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2087563"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2087563\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2087564"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2087563"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2087563"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2087563"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}