They have been targeted in aform of racism, and it's well past time for us to stop this marketing and taking advantage of this population when we know that this is harmful and is an easy thing that we can do to reduce the smoking and the complications
Candy cigarettes: do they encourage children's smoking
Flavors also make tobacco products taste good,(1-3) which is very appealing to new and inexperienced smokers.(3) The cooling and anesthetic effects of menthol mask the harshness associated with cigarette smoke, allow deeper inhalation,(4) and make tobacco toxins go down easier.(5) Flavors, especially menthol, make it harder to quit.(6, 7) Menthol actually makes cigarettes more addictive than those cigarettes sold as non-menthol.(7) Though many smokers may think flavors make tobacco and smoking safer, menthol cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products present the same disease risk as nonmenthol cigarettes.(8) Menthol and other flavored tobacco products are disproportionately used by African Americans and other communities of color, as well as female, younger, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) smokers
But human nature being what it is, change doesn't come easily for most
Our society does have the right and duty to take steps to protect kids and young adults from tremendous harm, as the federal government did in 2019 when it raised the smoking age from 18 to 21
