Urge Biden admin to finalize new tobacco rules

Right now, the White House is in the final stages of consideration to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars in the U.S. As officials get closer to finalizing these rules, the tobacco industry is working harder to block these regulations to protect their profits at the expense of the health of Iowans.

While the tobacco industry spreads false claims about job losses, policing issues, and illicit trade, it is important for us to keep focused on these facts:

• Ending the sale of menthol and flavored cigars will save lives.

• Over 40% of kids who smoke cigarettes use menthol cigarettes and close to 65% of kids who smoke cigars use flavored cigars.

• More than 14% of adults smoke in Iowa and more than 22% of high school students use a tobacco product.

• Smoking costs our state more than $1.2 billion each year in health care costs.

Join me and the American Lung Association in urging the Biden Administration to finalize the proposed rules to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars by the end of the year by signing the petition at Lung.org/Stop-Menthol.

Alicia Gerke, MD

Chair, Iowa Local Leadership Board, American Lung Association

Iowa City