Biden delays ban on menthol cigarettes
The Biden administration said Friday it was delaying a decision on whether to ban menthol cigarettes, effectively quashing a proposal that has divided Black American voters and fueled millions of dollars in lobbying campaigns by the tobacco industry in this presidential election year.The White House has faced considerable resistance from cigarette companies that stand to lose billions of dollars if they can no longer sell menthol cigarettes. Opponents took to the airwaves to warn of increased cartel trafficking along the border due to the smuggling of counterfeit cigarettes and police violence against Black residents if a ban were in place.Such efforts have posed risks for President Biden, whose support among Black voters has at times declined in recent months.Some of Biden's top heal...