Biden unlikely to ban menthol cigarettes, despite urging from health officials

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

Nov. 19, 2024, 5:51 PM EST


The U.S. surgeon general said Tuesday that a federal ban on menthol cigarettes would be one of the most effective ways to slash tobacco-related illnesses and deaths among Black people — even as the clock winds down on the Biden administration’s ability to do anything about it.

The long-standing promise of a ban on menthol cigarettes, which has been years in the making, is unlikely to move forward before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. The ban had been expected by the end of this year. It’s possible that the Food and Drug Administration may push through its proposal to reduce the addictiveness of cigarettes by capping the levels of nicotine. But menthol cigarettes are likely to remain on the market.

“As a public health advocate — and as a Black woman and mother — I am heartbroken that this rule has not made it over the finish line,” said Dr. Avenel Joseph, interim executive vice president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a nonprofit health care advocacy group.

The FDA announced it would begin the process of banning menthol tobacco cigarettes in 2021. Since then, it has done all it is legally authorized to do to put the finalized rule to ban menthol in motion. It has since been in the hands of the Biden administration to move forward. Instead, it has been repeatedly delayed.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/biden-menthol-cigarettes-ban-health-officials-rcna180749

[MichMan]

1. What is the reason for the continued delays ?

The FDA announced it would begin the process of banning menthol tobacco cigarettes in 2021. Since then, it has done all it is legally authorized to do to put the finalized rule to ban menthol in motion. It has since been in the hands of the Biden administration to move forward. Instead, it has been repeatedly delayed.

“Few policies would upend the tobacco companies’ insidious, racist playbook more than a ban on menthol cigarettes, which are largely responsible for the 45,000 Black people in the United States who die from tobacco-related illnesses annually,” Joseph said.

I guess it needs to be studied a few more years.

[yardwork]

2. Trump used this against Harris in the campaign.

Ads and social media targeted to Black people said that "she will take your menthol cigarettes away." Thats probably why the administration held off on the ban.

People addicted to menthol cigarettes aren't going to be happy if they're banned. I remember the constant complaints from smokers when NC finally banned smoking in restaurants and public buildings.

The right-wing uses public health measures to turn people against the government.

It's one of the difficult things about democracy.

[womanofthehills]

3. Interesting info on nicotine

Many long Covid people are getting some relief from nicotine patches - the ones used by people to stop smoking. Studies say it can increase dopamine- probably why so many smoke.

Also, acetylcholine and nicotine have the same receptors and research has shown small amts of nicotine help our acetylcholine receptors work better. So now, many Long Covid patients are taking mini amts of nicotine thru patches.

“Is the post-COVID-19 syndrome a severe impairment of acetylcholine-orchestrated neuromodulation that responds to nicotine administration?”

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9845100/

[Elessar Zappa]

4. I'm not sure how I feel about this.

I generally believe that people have the right to consume substances as long as it doesn’t affect another person. But it’s true that menthol has been targeted towards black people. So I’m ambivalent about the subject.

[MichMan]

5. The FDA banned every other cigarette flavor in 2009, but exempted menthol

Imagine how many lives would have been saved and the impact on health care costs had they done so.

Now here we are 15 years later, and they are still dragging their feet.

[RobinA]

6. Right, Because

people addicted to a substance just stop using it when it's banned.

[MichMan]

7. I take it you opposed the FDA ban on all the other cigarette flavors in 2009

In 2009, FDA banned cigarettes with characterizing flavors other than menthol (e.g., cherry, chocolate), which are known to appeal to youth and young adults.22 This ban was an important first step for responsible tobacco regulation to protect the American public, particularly children, from the dangers of cigarettes—the product most responsible for tobacco-related death and disease in the United States.

https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/products-ingredients-components/menthol-and-other-flavors-tobacco-products

[Mosby]

8. They really need to follow through on this

And while they are at it maybe tack on more federal tax and do something about reservation sales.