Critics say menthol cigarette ban would increase policing of Black communities – New Jersey Monitor

A proposed statewide ban on menthol cigarettes would enhance policing of Black communities, value New Jersey income, and allow black market cigarette gross sales, critics of the plan instructed lawmakers Thursday.

The invoice, which supporters say would make cigarettes much less enticing for younger folks and result in a decline in smoking, comes because the Federal Drug Administration is weighing a nationwide ban on menthols. That proposal has additionally obtained combined opinions from some Black leaders.

“I can let you know one factor that I find out about substance abuse: Prohibitions don’t work,” stated Jiles Ship, president of New Jersey’s chapter of the Nationwide Group of Black Legislation Enforcement Executives. “Prohibitions don’t work. What does work is schooling, remedy, and counseling.”

Andrew Kerstein, the proprietor of a number of tobacco shops, warned the ban would result in an increase in legal exercise and make communities much less secure. He stated the ban would additionally result in a decline in cigarette gross sales tax income, noting menthol cigarettes make up greater than 40% of New Jersey’s cigarette gross sales.

Treasury officers have stated they count on the state’s $2.70 excise tax on packs of cigarettes to usher in $91.6 million within the fiscal 12 months that begins July 1. That’s lower than two-tenths of a p.c of the Treasury’s complete forecasted collections for fiscal 12 months 2023.

Eric Blomgren, affiliate director of presidency affairs on the New Jersey Gasoline, C-Retailer and Automotive Affiliation, stated a menthol ban might additionally power some companies to shutter their doorways, costing the state additional income from payroll taxes.

He warned a single-state ban would push menthol people who smoke to purchase their cigarettes in one other state, saying states neighboring Massachusetts noticed sharp rises in cigarette gross sales after the state enacted its first-in-the-nation ban on menthol cigarettes in 2019.

Representatives for grocery, legislation enforcement, and fuel station teams warned a ban would allow and enhance black market cigarette gross sales, particularly by means of cigarettes smuggled in from neighboring states.

Even the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey came out in opposition, saying the invoice has “good intentions” however warning it might result in “extra interactions with the police in communities which can be already over-policed.”

The Meeting Well being Committee superior the invoice anyway in a party-line vote.

“The statistics on menthol are actually very clear. It’s an agent that’s notably interesting to youth, encourages using tobacco product by cooling that scorching smoke that you simply’re respiration into your lungs,” stated Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-Burlington), the committee’s chair.

Canada, Conaway famous, noticed a decline in cigarette use after it banned menthol flavorings.

Although most varieties of flavored cigarettes have been banned in New Jersey and on the federal degree for greater than a decade, these bans exempted these with clove and menthol flavors.

The FDA’s proposed menthol ban will take time to finalize and can probably be tied up by litigation.

Whereas Conaaway’s invoice does have supporters, some weren’t prepared to offer full-throated backing to the measure as a result of they stated it doesn’t go far sufficient.

Corrine Orlando, director of presidency relations for the American Coronary heart Affiliation, stated any new coverage to eradicate the sale of flavored tobacco merchandise “ought to embody all flavors in all tobacco merchandise, together with cigars.”