05-03-2021, 12:28 PM
Last year, the House passed a bill banning all flavored e-cigarettes and menthols, but the legislation did not clear the Senate.
This is not the first time flavored cigarettes have faced prohibition, since the FDA banned other flavored cigarettes in 2009.
The bans will not be put in place immediately, since they're subject to a potentially years-long rulemaking process and then could face legal challenges from the industry.
Matthew Myers, president of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids said the move would be "historic" in protecting kids from tobacco addiction and advancing health equity, particularly among Black Americans. He told CBS News in a statement Wednesday. "It has the potential to be the strongest action our nation has ever taken to drive down the number of kids who start smoking and the number of Americans who are sickened and killed by tobacco."
There remain some concerns about the possible unintended consequences of a menthol ban.
In a letter obtained by CBS News on Monday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and dozens of other criminal justice groups expressed concern that a ban on menthol cigarettes would have "serious racial justice implications" because of criminal penalties that would disproportionately impact people of color."
However, if the ban is implemented, the FDA said individual users would not be affected. "[E]nforcement of any ban on menthol cigarettes and all flavored cigars will only address manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, importers and retailers," the FDA's statement said. "The FDA cannot and will not enforce against individual consumer possession or use of menthol cigarettes or any tobacco product."
This is not the first time flavored cigarettes have faced prohibition, since the FDA banned other flavored cigarettes in 2009.
The bans will not be put in place immediately, since they're subject to a potentially years-long rulemaking process and then could face legal challenges from the industry.
Matthew Myers, president of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids said the move would be "historic" in protecting kids from tobacco addiction and advancing health equity, particularly among Black Americans. He told CBS News in a statement Wednesday. "It has the potential to be the strongest action our nation has ever taken to drive down the number of kids who start smoking and the number of Americans who are sickened and killed by tobacco."
There remain some concerns about the possible unintended consequences of a menthol ban.
In a letter obtained by CBS News on Monday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and dozens of other criminal justice groups expressed concern that a ban on menthol cigarettes would have "serious racial justice implications" because of criminal penalties that would disproportionately impact people of color."
However, if the ban is implemented, the FDA said individual users would not be affected. "[E]nforcement of any ban on menthol cigarettes and all flavored cigars will only address manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, importers and retailers," the FDA's statement said. "The FDA cannot and will not enforce against individual consumer possession or use of menthol cigarettes or any tobacco product."
