White House Considering Ban on Menthol Cigarettes

SOURCE www.dailymail.co.uk
The White House is considering finalizing a ban on menthol cigarettes, which are popular among smokers and particularly with black smokers. Special interest groups are pressuring for and against the ban, with concerns about economic consequences for convenience stores and livelihoods. Health officials have missed deadlines to establish the ban, causing confusion. Advocates claim that banning menthol cigarettes will save lives.

Key Points

  • Menthol cigarettes account for nearly one-third of the industry's market share in the U.S.
  • Advocates claim that menthol makes cigarettes more appealing and easier to smoke, enhancing the addictive effects of nicotine.
  • Menthol is currently banned in Canada, the European Union, California, and Massachusetts.

Pros

  • Banning menthol cigarettes could reduce smoking rates and save lives.
  • Eliminating menthol could prevent 320,000 to 650,000 smoking-related deaths in the U.S. over 40 years.

Cons

  • The ban could negatively impact minority communities, particularly black smokers.
  • Special interest groups argue the ban could have far-reaching economic consequences and affect small businesses.