Lack of national menthol ban nudges states, cities to act

The Biden administration allowed a weekend deadline to pass without acting on a proposal to ban menthol cigarettes nationwide, increasing pressure on state and local governments to enact their own restrictions.

The federal Tobacco Control Act of 2009 prohibited cigarette flavors but exempted menthol cigarettes and all flavored cigars. Public health advocates have been working since then to close that loophole, saying menthol flavoring makes it easier for people to start and continue smoking because it makes it less irritating.