Anti-smoking groups are suing the government over the delay in introducing a menthol ban

On April 9, anti-smoking groups initiated lawsuits against the U.S. government over the delay in adopting a proposed ban on menthol cigarettes.

Food and Drug Administration has has been attempting to impose a similar ban on menthol cigarettes for nearly 15 years, considering that “between 300,000 and 650,000” smoking-related deaths may very well be prevented over a few a long time. The lawsuit said the tobacco industry lobby made it difficult for supporters and lawmakers to pass the bill.

A big element of pushing the menthol ban is the disproportionate impact on Black Americans. In the Nineteen Sixties, advertisements especially promoted menthol to black people. The targeted marketing was successful and caused “1.5 million Black Americans to start smoking menthols.” As a result, nearly 200,000 black Americans died from smoking-related health problems. In 2020, of all smokers, 81% of black people smoked menthol cigarettes and 34% of white people smoked menthol cigarettes.

Dr. Yolanda Lawson, president of the National Medical Association, said in a statement: “As African-American physicians, we are deeply concerned by the continued delays in finalizing the FDA’s ban on menthol cigarettes.”

She continued: “Our patients, more than any other group, become disabled and die prematurely due to continuous smoking of these cigarettes.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most individuals who smoke cigarettes began smoking in childhood and continued smoking into maturity.

“FDA research confirms that a menthol ban would save lives,” Laurent Huber, Executive Director of Action on Smoking and Health, told the public. “There is not any scientific reason to delay finalizing this rule.

Overall, cigarette smoking has declined over the past twenty years, but menthol smoking has increased, particularly amongst young adults, racial minorities, women, and folks with mental health problems.