Biden administration postpones ban on menthol
WASHINGTON (AP) — For the second time in recent months, President Joe Biden‘s administration has delayed a sweeping plan to ban menthol cigarettes, a decision that is certain to infuriate anti-smoking advocates but could avoid angering Black voters ahead of November elections.
In a statement Friday, Biden’s top health official gave no timeline for issuing the rule, saying only that the administration would take more time to consider feedback, including from civil rights groups.
“It’s clear that there are still more conversations to have, and that will take significantly more time,” said Health and Human Service Secretary Xavier Becerra, in a statement.
The White House has held dozens of meetings in recent months with groups opposing the ban, including civil rights organizers, law enforcement officials and small business owners.
The announcement is another setback for the health officials at the Food and Drug Administration, who drafted the ban and predicted it would prevent hundreds of thousands of smoking-related deaths over 40 years. The agency has worked toward banning menthol across multiple administrations for more than a decade without ever finalizing a rule.
Related articles
Pope Francis appoints new bishop in Tennessee after former bishop's resignation under pressure
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Pope Francis has appointed Reverend James Mark Beckman as Bishop of Knoxvill2024-05-08Tennis legend Boris Becker discharged from bankruptcy court in England
LONDON (AP) — German tennis legend Boris Becker was discharged from bankruptcy court in London after2024-05-08Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney want to expand stadium capacity to 55,000
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have given an insight into their long-term ambitions for Welsh socc2024-05-08News organizations have trust issues as they gear up to cover another election, a poll finds
NEW YORK (AP) — Even as many Americans say they learn about the 2024 election campaign from national2024-05-08Mobile home explodes in Minnesota, killing 2 people, sheriff's office says
PRINCETON, Minn. (AP) — Two people died when a mobile home exploded in Minnesota early Tuesday in a2024-05-08Ford recalls Maverick pickups in US because tail lights can go dark, increasing the risk of a crash
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford is recalling nearly 243,000 Maverick small pickup trucks in the U.S. bec2024-05-08
atest comment