Biden administration delays proposed ban on menthol cigarettes
US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has announced that a proposed ban on menthol cigarettes in the US will take significantly more time. The decision, which had posed political risks for President Joe Biden, was delayed due to the public comment period and feedback from various civil rights and criminal justice groups. The FDA initially set a deadline of August 2023 for the ban, but a coalition of civil rights and medical organizations sued the agency this month. The ban has become a pivotal issue for Biden, who is facing an election year with concerns over a dropoff in turnout from Black voters. The NAACP and the Congressional Black Caucus have endorsed the ban, claiming it would save hundreds of thousands of Black lives. The FDA's proposed rule would ban the manufacturing and sale of menthols but would not police smokers themselves. Proponents of a ban have expressed concern about the delay, with the NAACP stating it is a blow to the Black community and the American Heart Association stating that inaction is enabling the tobacco industry to continue aggressively marketing these products.
