{"id":2099988,"date":"2023-11-15T17:18:01","date_gmt":"2023-11-15T22:18:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-faces-bipartisan-opposition-over-looming-menthol-cigarette-ban\/"},"modified":"2023-11-15T17:21:20","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T22:21:20","slug":"biden-faces-bipartisan-opposition-over-looming-menthol-cigarette-ban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-faces-bipartisan-opposition-over-looming-menthol-cigarette-ban\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden faces bipartisan opposition over looming menthol cigarette ban"},"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\">18<\/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-faces-bipartisan-opposition-over-looming-menthol-cigarette-ban%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=2099988&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\u200d Faces Opposition as Decision \u2062on Menthol\u2062 Ban \u2062Nears<\/h2>\n<p>President Joe Biden is encountering resistance from both sides of the political spectrum as his administration approaches a decision on a \u2063proposed ban on menthol cigarettes. Critics\u200b argue that\u200d such\u200d a move would have negative economic consequences and \u2063disproportionately\u200b impact communities of color.<\/p>\n<h3>Expected FDA Decision on Menthol Ban<\/h3>\n<p>The \u200cFood\u200b and Drug \u200cAdministration (FDA) is expected to announce its decision on\u200c whether to implement a ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars as early as this week. This follows\u200d a proposal put forth by the agency in the spring of 2021. However,\u200b lawmakers and advocacy groups have\u200d voiced their concerns, claiming that the ban would lead to an \u2063increase in illicit sales and inconsistent enforcement.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cBanning products does not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-feds-favorite-inflation-measure-hits-four-decade-high\/\" title=\"The Fed\u2019s Favorite Inflation Measure Hits Four-Decade High\">curb consumer demand<\/a>, \u200cbut rather fuels illicit markets. Products made and sold without FDA \u200boversight are much more likely to \u200dcontain\u200d dangerous additives,\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>A letter signed by over 60 criminal justice and drug reform groups\u200c was sent to President Biden, emphasizing the \u2064dangers of underground markets and citing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-rep-murphy-fentanyl-crisis-direct-result-of-joe-bidens-reckless-open-border-policies\/\" title=\"Exclusive \u2014 Rep. Murphy: Fentanyl Crisis \u2018Direct Result\u2019 of Joe Biden\u2019s \u2018Reckless\u2019 Open Border Policies\">current fentanyl crisis<\/a> \u2062as an example.<\/p>\n<h3>Opposition from Republicans and \u200dDemocrats<\/h3>\n<p>Republicans have\u200d long\u200c been opposed to the proposed ban, and now a few\u200d Democratic \u200dlawmakers \u2062are \u2064also \u200cexpressing their\u200d opposition as the\u2063 FDA&#8217;s decision draws near. Representatives Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY)\u200b wrote a joint letter to the FDA, raising concerns about national security implications and the potential \u200dfor revenue streams to benefit foreign terrorist organizations.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cIt is well-documented that Hezbollah is a leader in the illicit cigarette trade \u2014 not halfway around the world but right here in the\u2062 Western Hemisphere. \u200bThere\u200c have been cases in which Hezbollah and Hamas\u2063 cells have smuggled cigarettes into the United States to send \u2064the revenue overseas,\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>Economic Concerns and Impact on Communities of Color<\/h3>\n<p>Opponents of the ban \u2064argue that it would have a negative impact on the economy, particularly for small businesses\u2063 already grappling\u2063 with rising costs and supply chain challenges. Cigarettes \u200baccount\u200b for a significant \u2063portion of sales and gross margins in convenience stores, contributing billions of dollars to the industry.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, U.S. Hispanic\u200c Business Council President Javier Palomarez highlights the potential harm to communities of color, as\u200b a majority of menthol cigarette consumers are\u2063 Hispanic\u200c and black. He expresses concerns about criminal charges or fines that these communities may face if the product\u200d becomes illegal.<\/p>\n<h3>Potential Political Consequences for Biden<\/h3>\n<p>The \u2064emerging opposition to the menthol ban could pose challenges for\u200d President Biden&#8217;s reelection\u200b campaign, particularly as Hispanic and black voters are key voting blocs\u200c for Democrats. Republican political strategists plan to use the proposed ban as a campaign issue, drawing\u200c comparisons to the Biden administration&#8217;s stance\u2062 on marijuana possession.<\/p>\n<p>In October, the Biden administration \u200bannounced its recommendation \u200bto loosen federal restrictions on marijuana, a\u2063 significant shift in federal drug policy.\u200d This decision may be used by Republicans to criticize the \u2064administration&#8217;s priorities.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s incredible that Biden is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-faces-bipartisan-opposition-over-looming-menthol-cigarette-ban\/\" title=\"Biden faces bipartisan opposition over looming menthol cigarette ban\">spending massive political capital<\/a> \u2063trying to ban cigarettes at the \u200bsame time he\u2019s legalizing weed and heroin injection sites,\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The timing of the FDA&#8217;s decision remains uncertain, but it could be \u2064announced as early as this week.\u200c Details regarding the enforcement of the ban have yet to be revealed.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\">Click here<\/a> to read more from The Washington \u2062Examiner.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How have the tobacco industry and retailers argued against the menthol ban\u2063 in relation \u2063to\u2063 illicit markets and declining tax revenue?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  \u200bOther terrorist groups\u200d have used proceeds from counterfeit cigarettes to fund their operations,\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>the letter states.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, health advocacy groups \u200band <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/court-rules-no-evidence-georgias-voting-law-discriminates-against-black-voters\/\" title=\"Georgia's voting law found non-discriminatory by court.\">civil rights \u200dorganizations<\/a> are\u2063 divided on the \u200bissue.\u2062 Some\u200d argue \u200cthat a ban on menthol cigarettes is necessary to \u2063address \u200cthe public health crisis caused by tobacco use, particularly among marginalized communities. According\u200d to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free \u200dKids, menthol \u2062cigarettes\u2062 are\u200c heavily marketed towards Black Americans, and account\u200c for over 80% of cigarettes smoked \u200dby this demographic.<\/p>\n<h3>Economic Concerns<\/h3>\n<p>Opponents of the menthol ban raise \u2064economic concerns\u200b,\u2062 suggesting that it would \u200dlead to significant job losses and a decline in tax revenue.\u2063 The tobacco industry, along with retailers and\u200d distributors, argue that the ban would create a thriving illicit market, similar to what happened \u2063with\u2063\u2064 prohibition in\u2062 the 1920s.<\/p>\n<p>They predict that consumers who \u200dwant menthol cigarettes would turn to the\u200b black market or neighboring states \u2063where bans are not in place, resulting in\u2062 lost sales and tax revenue\u2064 for impacted \u2064communities.<\/p>\n<h3>Addressing \u2062Health Disparities<\/h3>\n<p>Proponents of the ban argue that it is a necessary step to address the racial\u200c disparities in smoking rates and related health outcomes. According to the American\u200c Lung Association, Black Americans have a \u2062higher \u200bsmoking rate \u200dcompared to other \u2064racial and ethnic groups, and are more likely to die \u2063from\u2063 smoking-related illnesses. They \u200cassert that banning menthol cigarettes would\u200d help to reduce these health\u200c disparities.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, \u200dthey contend that the tobacco industry has deliberately targeted communities of color with aggressive marketing campaigns, contributing\u200d to higher\u2063 smoking rates among these populations.<\/p>\n<h3>Conclusion<\/h3>\n<p>The \u200cdecision \u2064on whether to implement a ban\u200d on menthol \u2063cigarettes is likely to be a contentious one. President Biden is \u200dfacing opposition from both sides, with concerns raised about economic\u2064 consequences, \u200cillicit markets, national security, and public\u200c health disparities. It remains to be seen how the FDA will \u2062weigh these various factors and\u200b make their \u2064final decision.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>President Joe Biden is facing opposition from both sides of the aisle as his administration nears a decision on a proposed menthol ban, with several arguing such a move would negatively affect the economy and disproportionately affect communities of color. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to release its decision as early as this<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2099989,"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-2099988","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\/2099988","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=2099988"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2099988\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2099989"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2099988"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2099988"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2099988"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}