Menthol cigarettes live to see another day after the US government delayed its menthol ban again. Photo credit: Geoffrey Gallaway, CC.
The US government is changing its stance on its proposed ban on menthol cigarettes, following a review by the White House of the possible health advantages of banning mint-flavored cigarettes versus the political danger of upsetting Black voters during an election year, reports the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
The administration announced it was delaying, again, in deciding whether to impose a ban, stating that additional consultations with external organizations are necessary. “This rule has garnered historic attention and the public comment period has yielded an immense amount of feedback, including from various elements of the civil rights and criminal justice movement, said health and human services secretary, Xavier Becerra. “It’s clear that there are still more conversations to have, and that will take significantly more time.” There is no specified timeframe for the government to revisit the decision.
Recent WSJ polls reveal that President Biden is facing challenges in garnering support from Black voters, particularly Black men. In the 2020 election, Biden received 91% of the Black vote from both genders. However, recent polls show that only 68% of Black voters across genders intend to support him.
According to Jefferies analyst Owen Bennett in a recent research note, a ban could resurface after the election, reported Bloomberg. “It is clear from the reporting and the statement from HHS that the Biden Administration is not abandoning these plans permanently at this stage,” he said, also adding that if the Republican candidate wins there would be less likelihood of a ban.