Detroit pastor refuses tobacco company's bribe to support ban

Aug.26.2022
Detroit pastor refuses tobacco company's bribe to support ban
Detroit pastor rejects $250k from tobacco company opposing minty cigarettes ban, citing public health concerns.

Recently, Reverend Sheffield of Detroit refused a large sum of money from the Reynolds Tobacco Company in opposition to the ban of menthol-flavored cigarettes. The amount was $250,000.


Even after Mr. Renault took public office, Renault Tobacco Company attempted to pay Sheffield to publicly oppose the proposed ban on menthol cigarettes by the US Food and Drug Administration.


In May, Sheffield wrote a column in a Detroit independent media outlet supporting the ban, using the phrase "smoking kills". The US Food and Drug Administration stated that 85% of African American smokers use menthol.


Sheffield told 7 Action News that this caused Reynolds Tobacco Company to raise their offer to $250,000, but she did not mention the identity of the bidder.


During an interview, Sheffield stated that he had never smoked in his entire life and that his mother had passed away due to emphysema caused by her failure to quit smoking. He also cited information from the FDA that revealed 85% of African American smokers use menthol. These reasons were among those he used to oppose the ban.


Sheffield stated that she is indeed aware of several prominent organizations receiving $4 million, while some individuals received $200,000 and $300,000 to oppose the ban. However, the significance of this matter cannot be measured by money. "There is no justifiable reason why all other data is prohibited, but the only information that affects African Americans is not.


This article is a compilation of information gathered from various sources, for the purpose of exchanging knowledge and learning. The copyright for the information summarized herein belongs to the original media outlets and authors. If there has been a violation of copyright, please contact us for prompt removal.


This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

The Spark of Reason| 2Firsts 2026 New Year Message
The Spark of Reason| 2Firsts 2026 New Year Message
Looking ahead to 2026, we do so with genuine anticipation. This will be a milestone year—the dawn of a new era.
Jan.01
South Korea to Classify Synthetic Nicotine E-Cigarettes as Tobacco from April 2026
South Korea to Classify Synthetic Nicotine E-Cigarettes as Tobacco from April 2026
South Korea will implement amendments to its Tobacco Business Act on April 24, 2026, officially classifying synthetic nicotine liquid e-cigarettes as tobacco. This marks the first revision of the legal definition of tobacco since 1988. Once in effect, synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes will be subject to existing tobacco regulations, including health warnings, advertising restrictions, smoke-free area enforcement, and youth protection measures.
Dec.29 by 2FIRSTS.ai
South Korea’s appeal court again sides with KT&G, Philip Morris Korea and BAT Korea in $36.24 million case
South Korea’s appeal court again sides with KT&G, Philip Morris Korea and BAT Korea in $36.24 million case
South Korea’s National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) has again lost on appeal in its damages lawsuit against KT&G, Philip Morris Korea and BAT Korea, seeking ₩53.3 billion (about $36.244 million).
Jan.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai
BlackRock Enters Top Shareholder Ranks as KT&G Holding Reaches 5.01%
BlackRock Enters Top Shareholder Ranks as KT&G Holding Reaches 5.01%
BlackRock increased its stake in KT&G to 5.01% after purchasing 68,646 shares, bringing total holdings to 5,914,169 shares and triggering Korea’s large-shareholding disclosure rules. KT&G shares climbed to an all-time intraday high of 153,900(about US$106.19) won and closed at a record 152,900(about US$105.50) won. KT&G is set to report earnings on Feb. 5, with consensus pointing to year-on-year growth in revenue and operating profit.
Jan.30 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Bradford meeting told rising cannabis-vape use is a “threat to the younger generation”
Bradford meeting told rising cannabis-vape use is a “threat to the younger generation”
A licensing meeting in Bradford was told that the rising use of cannabis vapes is a “threat to the younger generation”. E-cigarettes containing THC are illegal for recreational purposes but have been found on sale in the district.
Dec.31 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Malaysia’s vape industry flags “policy U-turn” concerns after ban on refillable open-system e-cigarettes
Malaysia’s vape industry flags “policy U-turn” concerns after ban on refillable open-system e-cigarettes
Malaysia’s vape industry has raised concerns over the government’s decision to ban refillable open-system e-cigarettes, describing it as a policy reversal despite earlier regulatory approvals.
Jan.08 by 2FIRSTS.ai