{"id":2154429,"date":"2024-01-20T07:23:04","date_gmt":"2024-01-20T12:23:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-leads-21-state-coalition-demanding-federal-ban-of-menthol-cigarettes\/"},"modified":"2024-01-20T07:27:06","modified_gmt":"2024-01-20T12:27:06","slug":"california-leads-21-state-coalition-demanding-federal-ban-of-menthol-cigarettes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-leads-21-state-coalition-demanding-federal-ban-of-menthol-cigarettes\/","title":{"rendered":"California leads coalition of 21 states demanding federal ban on menthol cigarettes"},"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%2Fcalifornia-leads-21-state-coalition-demanding-federal-ban-of-menthol-cigarettes%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=2154429&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>California Attorney General Leads Coalition Urging Biden Administration to Ban Menthol Cigarettes<\/h2>\n<h3>Targeting Communities\u200c of Color<\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p>California Attorney General Rob Bonta is spearheading a coalition of 21 states \u200cdemanding \u2064that the Biden administration take action to ban menthol cigarettes. The coalition argues that these cigarettes are\u200d disproportionately consumed by black smokers, LGBTQ \u2062smokers, and individuals with mental health issues.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;For far too long, tobacco companies have intentionally targeted specific communities across this\u2062 nation, particularly communities of color, which has contributed to significant health disparities and inequities,&#8221; said Attorney General Bonta. &#8220;The time to act is now. I urge the Biden Administration to \u2062finally halt the sale of these flavored tobacco\u2063 products, which will lay \u2062the groundwork to\u2062 reverse decades of disparities in tobacco\u200c use and save lives.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3>Reviewing a\u200c Proposed Rule<\/h3>\n<p>The White House Office of \u2062Management and Budget is currently reviewing a proposed rule by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that would ban menthol\u2062 as \u200ca flavoring \u200cagent in\u2062 tobacco. The FDA aims\u200c to reduce the appeal of cigarettes, especially to young people, and\u2063 improve the health of current menthol cigarette smokers.<\/p>\n<p>Bonta \u2063argues that &#8220;menthol cigarette use is also disproportionately high among LGBTQ+ smokers, smokers with mental \u200chealth problems, and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.&#8221; He believes\u2062 that\u2063 the flavoring is a primary reason \u2063why young people start \u200csmoking and become addicted.<\/p>\n<h3>Debating the Concerns<\/h3>\n<p>However, some experts disagree with these concerns. They point out that studies examining menthol use rates and \u200byouth smoking fail \u200cto establish a correlation between the two.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Any consideration of menthol prohibition should\u200d take into account the low youth use of the \u2064product,\u2063 the lack of association \u200cbetween menthol use rates and youth smoking,\u2063 the costs of enforcing prohibition, especially for \u2062minority communities, and\u2062 other more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-depth-epa-faces-backlash-court-battles-over-its-new-emissions-rule\/\" title=\"IN-DEPTH: EPA Faces Backlash, Court Battles Over Its New Emissions Rule\">cost-effective ways<\/a> of reducing smoking,&#8221; wrote policy experts from the Reason Foundation.<\/p>\n<h3>Loopholes and Illegal Sales<\/h3>\n<p>In 2020, the FDA banned\u200c all vape flavors for reusable vapes, except for menthol and tobacco. However, this rule did not apply to disposable\u2062 vapes like those from the Elf\u200b Bar brand. Although Congress closed this loophole and \u2064required vape companies to file FDA applications, unlicensed products continue to be illegally imported and sold nationwide.<\/p>\n<h3>A Coalition for Change<\/h3>\n<p>The coalition led by California includes 20 other states, \u2062including Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii,\u2064 Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, \u2063New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North \u2062Mariana Islands, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and the District of Columbia.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What is the current status of the\u2064 proposal \u200cto ban menthol cigarettes, and what could be the potential impact of this ban on health disparities and vulnerable communities<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Posal\u2062 by \u2064the FDA<\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p>In April, \u2063the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its intention to ban\u2064 the sale of menthol cigarettes, citing their harmful impact \u2062on\u2064 public health and \u2064the targeting of\u200d vulnerable communities. The \u2062proposal has since undergone a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republican-canvassers-rescind-their-votes-to-certify-wayne-county-michigan-results\/\" title=\"Republican Canvassers Rescind Their Votes to Certify Wayne County, Michigan, Results\">public comment period<\/a>, during which the coalition led by Attorney General Bonta submitted a letter\u2064 urging the administration\u2063 to expeditiously finalize\u200c the\u2062 ban.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The coalition argues that\u200b banning menthol cigarettes is\u200d a critical step in addressing health disparities within communities of color. According \u2062to\u2064 studies, menthol \u2064cigarettes are particularly popular among black smokers, with\u2064 over \u206485% reporting a preference for menthol-flavored\u2064 brands. Moreover, LGBTQ \u2062individuals have been shown to have\u2063 higher smoking rates than the general population, and mental health issues are also prevalent among smokers. By banning menthol \u200ccigarettes, the coalition believes that\u2063 the\u200c Biden administration can help \u2064curb smoking\u200b rates\u200d and promote\u200b healthier \u2063behavior within these marginalized communities.<\/p>\n<h3>The Impact \u200dof Menthol Cigarettes<\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Menthol \u2063cigarettes have long been a concern for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hispanics-emerge-as-anti-lockdown-bloc-in-latest-blow-to-democrats\/\" title=\"Hispanics Emerge As Anti-Lockdown Bloc In Latest Blow To Democrats\">public health officials due<\/a> to their increased addictiveness \u200band potential for harm. The cooling effect of menthol can mask the harshness of tobacco smoke, making it easier for \u2063individuals to start \u200bsmoking\u2063 and harder for them \u2062to quit. This has led to a higher prevalence of smoking-related\u2064 diseases, such as lung cancer\u200d and heart disease,\u2064 among menthol cigarette smokers.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In \u200baddition, research has shown that the tobacco industry has deliberately targeted communities of color,\u2064 including black communities, with aggressive marketing and advertising for menthol cigarettes. This has perpetuated health disparities, as these \u200bcommunities bear\u2062 a disproportionate burden \u2062of smoking-related diseases. Banning menthol \u200dcigarettes would be a crucial step in dismantling this systemic targeting and reducing health\u2062 disparities \u2063among different populations.<\/p>\n<h3>Opposition and Controversy<\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p>While the\u2063 coalition led by Attorney \u2063General Bonta emphasizes the\u200c urgent \u2064need to \u200dban menthol cigarettes, there are opponents who argue against such \u2063a ban. Some argue that it may\u2063 lead to illicit \u2063trade\u2064 and a rise in underground \u2063markets for menthol\u200d cigarettes. Others raise concerns of infringement on personal freedoms and worry about the \u2062implications of government \u200coverreach.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>However, supporters of the ban argue that the potential negative consequences\u200c are \u200doutweighed by the public health\u200d benefits. They\u2062 point\u2063 to\u2064 the\u2064 success of previous bans, such\u2062 as the ban on flavored cigarettes, which\u200c have resulted in reduced smoking\u200b rates among young people. They also\u2062 highlight the responsibility of the government to \u200cprotect the health of its citizens and \u200cprioritize the well-being of marginalized communities that \u200chave \u200cbeen disproportionately affected by the tobacco industry&#8217;s\u2064 targeting and marketing strategies.<\/p>\n<h3>Looking Ahead<\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p>The coalition, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, has\u200c sent a clear\u200b message to the Biden\u2064 administration, urging them to act swiftly in finalizing the ban on menthol cigarettes. They argue that this action is necessary to address health disparities and\u200b save lives\u2064 within \u2062communities of \u2063color, LGBTQ \u2062populations, and individuals \u2064with mental health issues.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>It remains to be seen \u200bhow the Biden administration will respond to this \u200bcoalition&#8217;s demands. The\u2062 proposal \u200dto ban menthol cigarettes is currently under \u200dreview \u200cby the\u2063 FDA, and\u2063 it is expected that\u200d a final decision \u2063will be made in the coming \u2062months. As the nation awaits the\u200c outcome, the importance of addressing health\u200d disparities and protecting vulnerable communities cannot be overstated.\u200d The ban\u200d on menthol cigarettes could be a significant step\u200d towards achieving these goals and\u200d creating a healthier future for all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California Attorney General Rob Bonta is spearheading a coalition of 21 states urging the Biden administration to prohibit menthol cigarettes. Bonta argues that these cigarettes are predominantly used by black smokers, LGBTQ smokers, and those with mental health issues. He accuses tobacco companies of deliberately targeting these communities, especially people of color, for an extended period<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2154430,"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-2154429","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\/2154429","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=2154429"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2154429\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2154430"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2154429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2154429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2154429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}