The feds on Thursday moved on a long-awaited plan to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, citing the toll on Black people who smoke and younger individuals.
“The proposed rules would help prevent children from becoming the next generation of smokers and help adult smokers quit,” stated Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
The Food and Drug Administration stated eliminating menthol cigarettes might stop between 300,000 and 650,000 smoking deaths over 40 years.
The FDA’s proposals are solely preliminary drafts and are unlikely to be finalized earlier than subsequent 12 months.
Companies would then have one further 12 months to part out their merchandise. For now, FDA leaders stated they may take feedback for 2 months after which proceed “as expeditiously as possible.”
Altria, which sells menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, stated it disagreed with the ban.
“Taking these products out of the legal marketplace will push them into unregulated, criminal markets,” the corporate stated in an announcement. “We will continue to engage in this long-term regulatory process.”
Senate stonewalls pot in Granite State
The New Hampshire Senate rejected two marijuana legalization payments, one that might’ve created a state-run monopoly for retail gross sales and one other extra modest plan to permit small-scale private use and residential cultivation of the drug.
Both payments beforehand handed the House, however the Senate Thursday as soon as once more stood as a roadblock, making certain New Hampshire for now will stay a holdout surrounded by states that permit leisure pot. In truth, opponents stated the truth that marijuana is authorized in Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts meant nothing to them.
“I’m not ashamed of that, I’m proud of that,” stated Sen. Bob Giuda, R-Warren.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”