Biden administration postpones menthol ban due to political pressure
The Biden Administration Faces Pressure to Delay Proposed Ban on Menthol Cigarettes
The Biden administration is set to announce its regulatory agenda on Wednesday, which includes a plan to remove menthol cigarettes from the market. However, due to mounting political pressure during an election year, the ban may face a further delay, as reported by the Washington Post citing anonymous officials.
Critics argue that delaying the ban would disproportionately impact black communities, potentially angering black voters who use menthol cigarettes and affecting President Joe Biden’s chances of re-election.
In April 2021, the Biden administration initially announced its plans to ban menthol cigarettes. The FDA proposed the rules a year later, originally aiming to finalize them in August of this year. However, the administration later hinted at finalizing them in January 2024. The current plan to wait until March is not binding, and the administration could issue the final rule sooner. One official mentioned that delaying the finalization of the rules could make it easier for a Republican successor to reverse them.
Last year, the Washington Free Beacon reported that opponents of the ban warned about its disproportionate impact on black individuals, potentially putting them at risk of arrest. The left-wing American Civil Liberties Union also raised concerns about the proposed rule’s “serious racial justice implications” in 2021.
Furthermore, there is evidence that voters in Pennsylvania, a swing state, disapprove of the proposed ban. An August 2022 poll revealed that 52 percent of Pennsylvania voters were against it. Recent polls have also shown former President Donald Trump leading over Biden in Pennsylvania.
What are the concerns about the ban disproportionately impacting black communities and potentially putting them at risk of arrest?
The Biden administration is facing significant pressure to delay its proposed ban on menthol cigarettes. The administration is set to release its regulatory agenda on Wednesday, which includes plans to remove menthol cigarettes from the market. However, anonymous officials cited by the Washington Post suggest that political pressure during an election year may result in a further delay of the ban.
Critics argue that delaying the ban would disproportionately impact black communities, which could anger black voters who use menthol cigarettes. This, in turn, may affect President Joe Biden’s chances of re-election. The disproportionate impact on black communities has been a concern since the ban was initially announced by the Biden administration in April 2021. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed the rules a year later, with an original aim to finalize them by August of this year. However, later statements from the administration suggested that finalizing the rules could be delayed until January 2024. The current plan to wait until March is not binding, and the administration could issue the final rule sooner. As one official mentioned, delaying the finalization of the rules could make it easier for a Republican successor to reverse them.
Opponents of the ban, as reported by the Washington Free Beacon last year, have warned about its disproportionate impact on black individuals, potentially putting them at risk of arrest. The left-wing American Civil Liberties Union has also raised concerns about the proposed rule’s “serious racial justice implications” in 2021.
Moreover, there is evidence that voters in Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state, disapprove of the proposed ban. An August 2022 poll revealed that 52 percent of Pennsylvania voters were against the ban. Recent polls have also shown former President Donald Trump leading over President Biden in Pennsylvania.
The pressure to delay the proposed ban on menthol cigarettes highlights the complex interplay between public health concerns and political realities. The Biden administration must consider the potential consequences of this ban on different communities, particularly black communities, while also prioritizing public health objectives. Balancing these competing interests will play a crucial role in the administration’s decision on whether to proceed with the ban or to delay its implementation.
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