Attorneys General From Multiple U.S. States Jointly Urge Ban on Menthol Tobacco Product Sales

Multiple U.S. Attorneys General jointly urge a ban on the sale of menthol-flavored cigarettes and flavored cigars to protect public health and reduce the disproportionate impact on minorities and youth.

According to a report by American media Riverbender on January 16, Attorneys General from 21 states submitted a letter to the Biden administration urging it to complete its review and swiftly implement proposed regulations to ban the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars.

The letter emphasizes the call to action to remove menthol tobacco products from the market to protect public health and address the systemic and disproportionate impact of such products on minority communities and other vulnerable populations, including youth.

 “I urge the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars because, despite a two-year decline in tobacco use, flavored tobacco still attracts and addict new smokers, particularly young and minority smokers,” the letter states.

As the chief legal officers of their states and territories, these Attorneys General refuted the unfounded claims that the proposed ban on menthol cigarettes would increase illegal trade or criminalize individuals for purchasing, possessing, or using menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. The letter claims that the FDA's proposed rule would help advance health equity and protect public health.