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.
Jerry Seinfeld's commitment to the bit
Authorities confirm 2nd victim of ex
Max Scherzer gives up 3 runs in rehab start, his 1st game action since offseason back injury
Rangers star Corey Seager hit by pitch, leaves game because of shin contusion
Fed's preferred inflation gauge shows price pressures stayed elevated last month
AP PHOTOS: Russian kids ride sticks with a horse's head in hobby horsing competition
I flew from Scotland to Denmark for 24 hours for a family trip to Legoland
Sydney church stabbing: Australian police charged five teens following anti
Myth of 'superhuman strength' in Black people persists in deadly encounters with police
Lightning and Islanders searching for answers to rebound from 2