Banning Menthol Cigarettes Will Have ‘Unintended Consequences’, Coalition Says
From: L.A. Watts Times
Written by Jennifer Bihm
A ban on menthol flavored cigarettes beginning to sweep the nation will have unintended negative consequences, especially for African Americans according to a coalition that advocates for equity in the implementation of policies. Part of the coalition is the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives whose members say that the ban will open up additional avenues to police abuse toward Blacks. They are trying, they said, to stop the ban and urge legislators to focus more on health solutions to the problem rather than criminalization.
“Public health people… we get it,” declared Sheila Thorne, president and CEO of the Multicultural Healthcare Marketing Group and member of the coalition.
