John, did you see Laurie’s note? First, the FDA announced a historic decision to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. Now, they must issue the regulations to implement it. That could take quite a while, and Big Tobacco is fighting this every step of the way. One company recently dumped $16M into stopping health policies like this one, and another just took out a full-page ad in the Washington Post making them out to be the good guys. Unreal. We need to show Big Tobacco that their lies and money will no longer work. We’re pushing the FDA to move swiftly and finalize the necessary regulations to turn this decision into life-saving action, but we need your help: Sign our petition supporting the FDA’s decision and urge them to move quickly to protect kids, advance health equity, and save lives >> Your voice can influence leaders to put in place the strongest measure our nation has ever taken to drive down youth smoking and stop the tobacco industry’s predatory targeting of Black communities. |
| | – The Tobacco-Free Kids team |
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Tobacco-Free Kids
Date: Tues, May 11, 2021 at 11:55 AM
Subject: Action needed: Tell FDA to move quickly to ban menthol cigarettes
To: [email protected] |
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John, Huge news: The FDA announced that it intends to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars – a critical first step toward ending decades of predatory marketing by Big Tobacco to kids and Black Americans. This is a victory for our movement and a truly historic opportunity to protect kids from tobacco addiction, advance health equity, and save lives. But now is no time to rest. While the FDA said it would issue draft regulations within a year, we cannot afford to wait that long to save lives – and Big Tobacco is already fighting this tooth and nail. Every minute the FDA doesn’t hear from us is a minute the tobacco industry’s disinformation campaign could drown us out. Will you help us keep the pressure on? Tell the FDA you support their decision to prohibit menthol cigarettes – and urge them to act quickly: |
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Your voice matters so much in this moment, John. Here’s why: - Prohibiting menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars would be the strongest action our nation has ever taken to drive down the number of kids who start smoking and are eventually sickened and killed by tobacco.
It will crack down on the tobacco industry’s most pernicious tactic to lure and addict kids, and put an end to Big Tobacco’s targeting of Black communities with menthol cigarettes – a form of institutional racism that has taken a devastating toll on Black lives and health, is a major cause of health disparities, and must be stopped once and for all.
- The power of our collective voice got us this far. The FDA issued its decision in response to a citizen petition filed by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and other public health groups – and a subsequent lawsuit by our partner organizations.
- FDA action is even more critical because of the Covid-19 pandemic. We know that smoking increases the risk of severe illness from Covid-19, which disproportionately impacts Black Americans and other communities of color.
There’s simply too much at stake to remain silent. Add your name: Urge the FDA to move quickly and turn their decision into life-saving action! Thank you for your advocacy, |
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Support this critical work by making a contribution today: |
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