FDA advisory group called the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee has asked the Administration to bar the sale of menthol cigarettes as a danger to human health. The reason? They are too popular. I do not smoke and I do not like smoking. However, I find it increasingly bizarre to ban products because people like them too much. If the Administration wants to seek a prohibition of tobacco, there are good faith reasons to do so. However, most Americans continue to believe that adults have a right to choose to smoke. If tobacco is legal, I do not see why citizens should be barred from buying the type of tobacco that they prefer.
The Committee insists that menthol-flavored cigarettes are too popular with children and African Americans. Much of the recommendation focuses on adults who are African-American, Hispanic as well as other ethnic and racial minorities. However, the Committee does not find any greater health risk of the product itself. Rather, they are so popular that they are likely to increase smoking: “The availability of menthol cigarettes leads to an increase in the number of cigarette smokers and the burden of premature mortality.”
The message seems to be: you can sell tobacco products unless they are too popular with consumers.
Unless there is some added health risk associated with menthol-flavoring, I have serious reservations about telling my neighbors that they cannot buy these cigarettes . . . as long as they do not smoke them in my house.
Source: Chart found on Reddit
Jonathan Turley
Swarthmore mom
1, March 21, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Blouise, Have you tried the Mexico coke made with cane sugar?
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Nope … but I will if I can find it. What’s it called?
SwM,
We have got to get together!!! But I will need a 2 month’s notice so that I may diet to lose the 10 pounds I know I will regain while in your marvelous company.
Blouise, Have you tried the Mexico coke made with cane sugar?
Blouise, How about garlic cheese grits, fried okra and a coke?
Swarthmore mom
1, March 21, 2011 at 12:55 pm
Blouise, I like Coke Zero too much. Back on the poisonous stuff
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I hear you except my addiction is even worse … Classic! Coke2 was great in that it tasted just like Classic but had half the carbs. They stopped distributing it up here a few years ago … I even went so far as to call Coke (I’m a hopeless addict)and they told me they were only selling it down south. I was forced to go back to the full carb version.
There is a carton in the pantry which I haven’t opened yet … it’s been there 2 weeks … I’ve been sooo damn good that soon I will have to reward myself with a binge.
You want to know the worst of it? When I’m feeling really needy I have a “chocolate coke”! Yep, I actually mix Hershey Chocolate syrup with coke and lots of ice. It’s almost, almost as good as sex (shut up, AY). I had my first chocolate coke on a trip, as a child, down south. That trip forever marked me as a civil rights activist (a good thing)and touched off my addiction to Coke (a not so good thing)
That’s also the time I experienced the wonders of grits. I will eat grits with anything. And then, come to think of it, that was also when I first tried Lawry’s Seasoning Salt … another staple. Upon reflection … that trip changed my life!
Anti-smoking crusades don’t have to have a rational reason for something like this, anti-tobacco has simply become evangelical in nature. I find the aiming at removing menthol cigarettes just stupid and racist to boot. Either make tobacco illegal or stfu.
Many years ago, my dad carried around a pack of Picayune cigarettes to ward off people bumming a smoke. That worked better than cloves of garlic and a crucifix.
Blouise, I like Coke Zero too much. Back on the poisonous stuff.
I had a friend who specifically chose menthols ’cause nobody liked them and she didn’t have people “bumming” from her all the time.
I guess things have changed. She quit a few years ago … can’t wait to tell her that her plan wouldn’t work now.
I’m with Stamford Liberal: “Lots of people like alcohol too much, too … “
W=c
“it was really tough quitting, when I quit I dreamed of smoking…and woke up feeling guilty”
December 6th 2010,was my last day and they say it gets easier,so far it seems to be right.
But I had help with a great nicotine patch three step program.
And I second your comment.
LSMFT comes to mind when we talk about cigarettes.
rafflaw, yes it is…change is good 🙂
I loved smoking…it was really tough quitting, when I quit I dreamed of smoking…and woke up feeling guilty!
…weed comes in menthol? that is just weird….
Some smoked unfiltered camels or french cigarettes.
Coincidence, but most kids that smoke weed smoke menthol or is that a myth I was alone in…
Smoking is one of the few bad habits that I did not get sucked into as a youngster!
Woosty, Is that a new avator?
Lots of people like alcohol too much, too …
Woosty I have not had had a cigarette in over 20 years either but I never did like menthol. Cigars do look good as does a cigarette sometimes but I just don’t indulge.
“Unless there is some added health risk associated with menthol-flavoring, I have serious reservations about telling my neighbors that they cannot buy these cigarettes . . ”
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menthol in a cigarette gives the smoker a deceitful feeling of ‘fresh air’ in the lungs. [Like rubbing menthol on your chest or placing it under your nose when there is congestion present…]it ‘covers’ up the negative sensation of inflamation and congestion and worse…it may open airsacs to allow deeper penetration of toxins.
Very nasty
very bad
I like lots of things that I know better (as an adult) to indulge in. As far as smoking….I am almost 20 years sober 🙂
(but every now and then I feel like having a cigar….strange, no?…)
Does the President smoke menthols?
Damn….and I …well….this is till legal…right now at least….