A menthol exemption contained in current legislation has stirred the race pot with over 75 percent of black smokers choosing menthols and suffering a higher rate of smoking-related cancers. The controversy has spilt blacks in congress.
A bill in congress has received much attention recently as controversy over a relative concession has continued to stir the pot only now, the race card is being called into play.
As part of an effort to help prevent America's youth from taking up the habit, legislation that would enable the FDA to regulate cigarettes calls for the ban of flavoured smokes, namely vanilla, clove and mint. Also under fire are the mint-derived menthol cigarettes.
However, the current legislation contains a provision, or exemption, on the menthol flavour and this is causing some heat from both sides.
Without the exemption, supporters of the bill claim that it will not pass. Why? Because Phillip Morris is currently a major supporter of the legislation and with around three-fourths of all black smokers statistically opting for menthol cigarettes compared to their white counterparts where only 25 percent choose menthol, this seemingly gives the tobacco giant a back door into the political game.
According to a news article in the
New York Times, the Congressional Black Caucus still maintains financial ties to "big tobacco", at times known to receive over a quarter of a million in US dollars of financial support. With 75 percent of black smokers inhaling the mint-derivative, it is easy to see a possible connection. When the discussions turn towards the health impact of smoking, particularly on blacks, financialities tend to muck up the medical statistics.
Scientists have long wondered whether menthol might play a role in the disproportionate share of smoking-related cancer among African-Americans — if for no other reason than the additive may mask the harshness of the smoke, making it easier for teenagers to begin smoking.
Despite the wonderment, there are still no conclusive studies that link menthol to the higher rates of smoking-related cancer shown in African-American. The only conclusive link is that black smokers choose menthol the vast majority of the time. An
NCI cancer bulletin released "found that both African Americans and Native Hawaiians had significantly greater risks of lung cancer related to smoking compared with whites, Hispanics, and Japanese Americans," with whites tapping in at a 55 percent lower risk when smoking the same number. Again, blacks opt for menthol 75 percent of the time where whites, 25 percent of the time.
Opposition to the exemption call it a "sell out" to the tobacco industry, accusing them of cowering to the power associated with their financial support. They believe that the bill can be constructed without the support of tobacco giants like Phillip Morris. Even the National African American Tobacco Prevention Network has pulled out from its support of the bill due the menthol exemption, calling it discriminatory against blacks. As many politicians refuse to accept what has been equated to the selling of one's soul to the devil, other graciously accept the tainted money using it to set up philanthropic charities and funds.
Black lawmakers who maintain strong tobacco industry ties include James E. Clyburn, who represents a tobacco-growing region of South Carolina and is majority whip of the House. Last year, Altria, the parent of Philip Morris, donated $50,000 to an endowment he established at South Carolina State University, a historically black college.
Even the American Medical Association, or AMA,
silenced any physician's claims against the exemption when its president stood in support of it saying that "removing the menthol exemption from the bill might derail the legislation."
Supporters of the exemption seem to be financially driven, opposition of the exemption are more concerned with health and prevention of teen smoking. An 18-year-old who started smoking at the age of 11 told his
story.
“I got hooked at a young age while hanging out with friends. Since I liked eating candy, the variety of flavors attracted me as well so I have become addicted,”
When menthols were first introduced, they did advertise as candy-like, giving a different take on the once bitter smoke.
The main target of this bill was not about financial support but about allowing the FDA to have some regulatory access to tobacco as far as labeling and content to keep smokers and non-smokers safe. This includes preventing 11-year-olds from smoking candy-like cigarettes because they mask the flavor of the bitter tobacco. It also includes preventing the mislabeling of cigarettes with misleading words like "light, which can creating the false belief that one is taking in less of a bad thing or reducing a risk of disease.
As far as the menthol exemption, adult smokers should not be punished for this bill either. With the exemption being politically labeled as the bipartisan compromise to the whole deal, it only seems fair to look at the history associated with flavoured smokes such as vanilla and peppermint versus the history of regular smokes and base a ban upon those statistics.
Regulations are needed to stop misleading labeling and possibly dangerous product tampering, as well as the selling of these products to minors. But should the informed adults who pay the taxes on these tobacco products and confined to their limited areas be treated as criminals when it comes to the choice of a regular or menthol?
If that be the case, then the next legislation should be whether teens and adults should be allowed to choose a supersized meal at their favourite fast food restaurant. Or better yet, lets just get rid of all fast food restaurants all together as their products are linked to heart disease and other health problems.
