The Biden administration has decided to postpone the ban on menthol cigarettes following criticism from black voters and cigarette companies. President Joe Biden and his administration have been considering a ban on menthol cigarettes since 2021, with health officials advocating for the ban due to higher rates of menthol cigarette consumption among black smokers. However, groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have raised concerns about the potential racial justice implications of the ban.
Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner who died in 2014 after a police altercation, has also spoken out against the ban. She argued that banning menthol cigarettes could lead to an illicit market and increase negative interactions between police and communities of color.
The White House has faced opposition to the ban from cigarette companies and other groups. Anti-smoking organizations even filed a lawsuit against the government to push for the ban, which has been delayed. The administration cited the need for more time to review the plan to ban menthol cigarettes.
Criticism of the delay has come from various sources, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Derrick Johnson, the President of the NAACP, criticized the administration for not prioritizing people and accused them of bowing to the interests of Big Tobacco. He emphasized the importance of valuing Black lives and called on leaders to stand up for the community.
