Is it fair to ban menthols? Of course not, at least not if you are a person of color. Or love the flavor of mint in the morning. Everyone else, mainly white smokers are left unscathed, or is that scathed?
But why go after menthols? The industry depends on flavorings – it is an essential part of turning cheap Bright leaf tobacco into the product we all love and use.
The fact that this process was invented by a slave by the name of Stephen in 1839 is all the more reason why we should tread lightly.
One group says this is this just another way of going after people of color. Another group says it’s a great way to get African Americans off smoking. They predominately smoke menthols and suffer disproportionately from tobacco-born illnesses.
So, to many this is just the powdered coke vs. crack debate – discriminate by way of cultural choices.
The real issue is what do we do instead?
Smoking is increasingly about self-medication and it is really only when people have chemical alternatives do they quit en masse.
Since American tobacco is so dependent on flavorings it’s pretty obvious this ban will be watered down or at least become somewhat discriminatory and absurdly shaped by lobbyists.
The truth is that light tobacco – the inhalable kind is the real problem. Not the specific flavorings.
Smoking wasn’t always about inhaling. Getting rid of fomaldehyde and glycerine may be fine but if congress really wants to help the world it should consider the lesson of President. Don’t let them inhale – just ban those kinds of tobacco and confine us to the coarse old stuff the real Indians smoked.
Case closed.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
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