Why menthol cigarettes have a chokehold on Black smokers
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The Persistence of Menthol Cigarettes in the Market
The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009 prohibited flavored cigarettes but excluded menthol. The popularity of menthol cigarettes among black smokers, making up 85% of the market share, has led big tobacco companies to focus on this product category. Brands like Newport by RJ R Reynolds dominate menthol sales in the U.S., with menthol cigarettes constituting half of the company's sales. The recent push to ban menthol flavoring is an attempt to close the initial loophole left in the 2009 law, as menthols have become a lucrative segment of the cigarette market.
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