The Biden administration on Friday delayed plans to ban menthol cigarettes, citing a need for more time to consider proposals from health regulators.
of The Wall Street Journal first reported the decision.said it was the result of the White House weighing the potential public health benefits of banning cigarettes against the political risks of angering black voters in an election year.
For decades, menthol cigarettes have been a target of anti-smoking groups who say they place a disproportionate health burden on Black communities and play a role in encouraging young people to smoke.
“This rule has received historic attention, and we received a tremendous amount of feedback during the public comment period, including from various elements of the civil rights and criminal justice movements,” said U.S. Secretary of Health Xavier Becerra. said in a statement Friday.
“It’s clear that there are still talks to be had and that will take more time.”
The Food and Drug Administration’s decision on a cigarette ban, expected last year, was delayed as the Biden administration took time to discuss the issue with multiple groups.
Shares in Altria Group and British America Tobacco fell slightly, with Imperial Brands down about 1%. Shares of Philip Morris International, which does not sell cigarettes in the United States, fell 1%.
Menthol cigarettes account for one-third of the industry’s overall market share in the United States.
The highly addictive product is not only appealing to young smokers, but has also been cited as having serious health implications for the black community.
Civil rights groups have long argued that menthol cigarettes pose a disproportionately high risk in black communities, where they are heavily sold.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 81% of black adults who smoke cigarettes use menthol products, compared with 34% of white adults.
