Potential Risks of Banning Menthol Tobacco Products

In April, the FDA proposed banning tobacco products with a menthol flavor. Some lawmakers in New Jersey believe they can implement the ban more quickly. However, all advocates should not act hastily, but should stop and consider the potential negative effects on public health, freedom, and racial justice.

Earlier this month, the New Jersey State Assembly Health Committee voted in favor of a statewide ban on the sale of menthol products, with civil penalties of up to $1,000. The proposed rules would need to be approved by the State Assembly and Senate before being signed into law by the Governor.

Advocates of the bill emphasize the popularity of mint flavor in cigarettes, as it provides a cooling effect for the otherwise harsh inhalation of tobacco smoke. They argue that this makes it easier for new smokers to become addicted and for those trying to quit to relapse. Supporters of the ban, on the other hand, believe that it would reduce the allure of tobacco and therefore increase smoking cessation rates, ultimately benefiting public health.

A recent study by the National Cancer Institute Journal has raised questions about a long-held theory regarding the use of menthol cigarettes and their impact on smoking cessation. The study, which surveyed 16,000 smokers, found that the quit rates were similar between those who smoked menthol and non-menthol cigarettes.

Equally important, the study also warns that banning menthol could lead smokers to use more harmful tobacco products - "if the analysis is correct, non-menthol smokers have a higher risk of lung cancer.

Studies claiming that a menthol ban would increase the quit rate often overlook its substitution effect - whether smokers completely quit or switch to other products.

For example, a recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that after the ban on menthol cigarettes in the UK in 2020, the proportion of over 7,000 adolescent smokers using menthol dropped from 12% to 3%. However, after listing out conflicting studies, the paper left the question of substitution for further research.

A recent paper has reported that among more than 2,300 smokers, the quit rates for those using menthol during the years of Canada's menthol ban (2015-2018) were 21% to 22%, compared to non-menthol users who had quit rates 7 to 8 percentage points lower. However, it is unclear whether those who quit smoking switched to flavored cigars or e-cigarettes, which are typically legal in Canada.

Using other, safer products to replace menthol cigarettes is key to reducing harm. Despite many American smokers expressing a willingness to consider alternatives after the menthol ban, US lawmakers and regulators typically stand in opposition to safer substitutes like e-cigarettes, particularly flavored e-cigarettes. As research overwhelmingly indicates, e-cigarettes are a healthier alternative for everyone and help more smokers quit. This was demonstrated in a significant study on youth smoking in San Francisco after banning all flavored products.

There are widespread concerns about a comprehensive ban on menthol cigarettes. Dr. Jeffrey has recently gathered a considerable amount of scientific literature suggesting that menthol products are "no more addictive than non-menthol cigarettes, associated with less tobacco consumption, and possibly even lower cancer risks." Singh also questions the need for a menthol ban, presenting evidence that smoking rates among young people are at historic lows and rapidly decreasing. Meanwhile, 60% of adolescent smokers do not even enjoy menthol cigarettes.

If the potential harms of the ban on menthol are not made clear, New Jersey voters should vote these politicians out.

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