U.S. Rep. André Carson (D-Indiana) recently signed on to a letter from Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Illinois) to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) supporting a proposed ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. 

On July 28, the Indiana State Medical Association sent a letter to Rep. Carson encouraging the congressman to support the measure.

“The ISMA is a longstanding advocate for smoking cessation in Indiana, as physicians recognize the extreme health risks that smoking poses to the Hoosier population,” the ISMA letter said. “It is not a surprise that Indiana ranks near the bottom as one of the unhealthiest states in the nation, as it also has one of the highest smoking rates in the country. There is no doubt that the two metrics are directly correlated.”

Rep. Kelly is the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Braintrust. Her letter states that menthol cigarettes disproportionately and negatively impact the health of the Black community. A 2020 study cited in the letter showed that while overall, approximately 43% of adult smokers used menthol cigarettes in the past month, over 80% of Black adult smokers used menthols. 

“Menthol cigarettes are a primary reason why tobacco use has long been the leading preventable cause of death for the Black community,” Rep. Kelly’s letter states. “Menthol flavoring masks the harsh taste of cigarette smoke, making it easy for youth to start smoking. Menthol cigarettes are also more addictive and harder to quit than regular cigarettes, resulting in greater damage to their health. The net result has contributed to the Black community suffering unfairly and disproportionately from tobacco-related diseases. Black Americans die from heart disease, lung cancer, strokes, and other tobacco-related diseases at rates far higher than other racial and ethnic groups.

“… While the FDA’s proposed rule to ban menthol-flavored cigarettes is long overdue, it is a significant step toward preventing a new generation from becoming tobacco users and saving lives,” the letter continues. “For too long, tobacco companies have been enabled to promote menthol cigarettes to the Black community, preying particularly on Black youth. We urge the FDA to continue to follow the science and move swiftly to implement the ban and remove these harmful products from the market without further delay.”

Thirty-two members of Congress signed the letter to the FDA. Carson was the only Indiana congressman to sign on.