The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering whether to cap nicotine levels in traditional combustible cigarettes and to ban the sale of menthols as well.
The FDA must respond in court by April 29 to a citizens’ petition to ban menthols by disclosing whether it plans to implement such a policy. And the Biden administration is considering a concurrent requirement to limit the amount of nicotine in all cigarettes sold in the U.S. to levels at which they are no longer addictive.
“It would be historic, it would be groundbreaking and it would save millions and millions of lives,” said the American Lung Association’s Erika Sward. “Reducing nicotine levels is a huge opportunity to help millions of American smokers end their addiction once and for all.”
However, the plan is facing pushback from a diverse group: Public health advocates who believe regulating nicotine is a strategic mistake, and social justice advocates who fear banning menthol cigarettes could lead to more confrontations between police and people of color.
Michael McGrady – InsideSources – 2021-04-28.
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