Senator urges FDA to ban menthol-flavored cigarettes

The Hill ^ | April 19, 2011 | Josiah Ryan

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) is calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban menthol-flavored cigarettes.

In a letter addressed Monday to the FDA, Blumenthal said the agency should ban menthol cigarettes because they encourage young people to smoke.

“The dangers of menthol tobacco products in general, and to our youth in particular, are highly concerning, and provide abundant grounds for FDA to develop a plan that will result in the removal of menthol from tobacco products to protect public health,” Blumenthal wrote in the letter, addressed to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg.

Blumenthal is seeking a ban identical to the one imposed in 2009 on cigarettes flavored to taste like chocolate, vanilla, clove and strawberry.

Blumenthal cited a study completed by the federally established Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) earlier this year that found that menthol flavoring, like other flavoring, makes tobacco usage more attractive to young people.

“It is well-documented that the restriction of access to tobacco products directly impacts youth smoking rates and that FDA should take strong action to prevent tobacco companies from using menthol cigarettes to increase the number of youth who smoke," said Blumenthal.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

Most of the young kids that I see that smoke are smokin Marlboro reds,

[newzjunkey]

Blumenthal said the agency should ban menthol cigarettes because they encourage young people to smoke.

Better idea: ban them all.

[Repeal The 17th]

I agree...
but I was at the time I was thinking more about whether/how much peanuts or cotton I can grow
...what shows I can watch
...what books I can read
...which websites I can go to
...what I can say
...where I can say it
...who I can say it to
...what foods I can buy
...what medicines I can buy
...what dose should they be in
...how big my TV set is
...what kind of light bulbs I can buy
...how much insulation I should have in my attic
...how fast I can drive
...how my milk should be processed
...what days I can buy a beer
...

[Eric Blair 2084]

IOW...The gubmint took away your freedom, so let’s take somebody else’s just to get even?

I understand Schadenfreude and I’m guilty of it sometimes. Think freedom for all.

[DJ MacWoW]

Is This You Too?

A "Love Note" Sent To Jim Robinson

“I do so enjoy these money raising pleas. Too bad you kicked off so many patriots back in the day that criticizing the big spending Bush was a cardinal sin on the so called conservative free republic.

Nope, I will happily continue to freeload information from this site. If the lights go dark, well, so be it...”

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[NotSoFreeStater]

Sorry, forgot to put my sarcasm tag on. I’ve noticed some of the biggest advocates against smoking cigarettes have no problem with legalizing pot.

[TigersEye]

Yep, and those people who tell us every little thing we can and can't do are failing in spectacular fashion in national security, economy and social/cultural progress in our country.

The most incompetent and corrupt has beens and never wases control nearly everything.

[Mariner]

Our national minorities need extra help from the nanny state.

[AGreatPer]

"Better idea: ban them all."

Best idea: Ban people that want to ban cigarettes.
If we don't bother you, get outta our life - everyone.

[Ham Hock]

If they manage to ban Menthol cigarettes, the tobacco company will simply re brand them as “cigars” and continue to sell them.

How do I know this?

Because that's what they did with clove cigarettes.

[TigersEye]

Legalize pot, legalize tobacco...

...ban lighters and matches! /s lol

[DTogo]

Did Dick smoke menthols in Vietnam?

[HotKat]

What about freedom of choice?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[FreedomPoster]

LOL! First thing I thought of too.

[RoadKingSE]

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) is calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban menthol-flavored cigarettes.

Not Kool Dick!

[ichabod1]

Yo yo yo you comin’ foh mah Kools an’ mah Newpote?

[Still Thinking]

B...b...but menthol is most popular with blacks. Is he racissst?

[struggle]

There goes the black vote.

[JPG]

Must be because BluMENTHAL doesn't like his name. Holder will be all over anyone messin’ with his people.