Biden delays ban on menthol cigarettes

The proposal had been in the works for years, with the goal of reducing the death rate of black smokers targeted by Big Tobacco. In an election year, the president's concerns about support from black voters may have influenced the postponement.

The Biden administration said Friday that it delayed the decision whether or not to ban the elections. menthol cigarettes, undoing a proposal that divided black American voters and fueled multimillion-dollar lobbying campaigns by the tobacco industry during this presidential election year.

The White House has faced considerable resistance from cigarette manufacturers who would lose billions of dollars if they could no longer sell menthol cigarettes. Opponents took to the airwaves to warn of increased cartel trafficking along the border due to the smuggling of counterfeit cigarettes and police brutality targeting black residents if a ban was in effect.

These efforts posed risks for President Biden, whose support among black voters has declined at times in recent months.

Some of Mr. Biden's top health officials have said a ban would save lives and protect against lung cancer, which poses a higher risk for black smokers, who have historically favored menthol cigarettes and are heavily targeted by tobacco companies.

“This rule has garnered historic attention, and the public comment period generated an immense amount of feedback, including from various elements of the civil rights and criminal justice movement,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. “It’s clear there are more conversations to be had, and it’s going to take a lot more time. »

The decision highlighted a debate among top federal officials over how to weigh the political and legal consequences of a ban against public health.< /p>

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