Mayor Bibb Attends Action in Washington for National Flavored Tobacco Ban

According to reports from US media, Justin Bibb, the mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, traveled to Washington to participate in an initiative urging the White House to implement a nationwide ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes.

Cleveland Mayor Bibo expressed during a video conference organized by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, "We need President Biden and his administration to save the thousands of lives in our city.

The Cleveland City Council introduced a bill last year to block the sale of flavored tobacco products, but this measure has yet to undergo any hearings or voting. However, other actions within the state have made the possibility of banning the sale of menthol cigarettes more complicated.

For Dr. David Margolius, director of the Cleveland Department of Public Health, the data regarding flavored cigarettes is clear: the city has the highest number of smoking-related deaths. Cleveland has a smoking rate of 35% among adults, compared to the national average of 12.5%, and the average life expectancy in the city is 10-20 years shorter than surrounding communities. He explains that the issue with menthol cigarettes is that they add natural cough suppressants to the flavor, causing smokers to inhale deeper and for longer periods, making it easier to become addicted to tobacco.

In 2009, the US Tobacco Control Act prohibited the nationwide sale of flavored cigarettes, with the exception of menthol flavor.

Experts have pointed out that timing is crucial for the federal ban on menthol cigarettes, as the US Food and Drug Administration typically takes about a year to implement such a ban, making it likely that it will take effect before the next president takes office.