21 State Attorneys General Urge Biden Administration to Ban Flavored Tobacco Products

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

The letter emphasizes the urgent need for action to remove menthol tobacco products from the market in order to safeguard public health and address the systemic and disproportionate impact of such products on minority communities and other vulnerable groups, including young people.

"I urge the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, as despite a decline in overall tobacco use over the past two years, flavored tobacco products continue to attract and addict new smokers, particularly among young people and minority smokers," the letter stated.

In their capacity as chief legal officers of various states and territories, these attorneys general have refuted baseless claims that a proposed ban on menthol cigarettes would increase illegal trade or unjustly criminalize individuals for the purchase, possession, or use of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. The letter asserts that the proposed regulations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) aim to advance health equity and protect public health.