Kansas City Menthol Ban Stays Losing?!?

We credit this push back to nothing more than mislabeling.

Council advocates aren't being forthright . . . They want to ban menthol cigarettes and arguments about "flavored" tobacco are disingenuous. 

Put simply . . .

If KCMO wants to ban menthol cigarettes,  they should just say so. 

Instead . . . The cat & mouse game seems not-so-serious.

What's worse . . . This legislation mostly serves to drive more small biz out of town and that's a tough call for the urban core that already lacks many shopping options.

Here's today's postscript . . . 

The Council collects a cigarette tax stamp that brings in about $1.6 million a year. With this proposed ban, that revenue will be lost, but the Council says data backs up its decision to ban flavored products.

It cites a recent study showing that 85% of Black smokers prefer menthol cigarettes, which carry a minty flavor.

A Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study shows that with a ban on menthol cigarettes, 24% of daily menthol smokers quit smoking entirely, compared to non-menthol smokers.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Kansas City council postpones vote on menthol tobacco ban amid local business concerns

This ordinance and the debate surrounding it will be discussed and voted on in the Council Subcommittee in two weeks.