Coalition calls for ban on sale of menthol cigarettes in Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A local group is calling for a ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes in Buffalo.

The “No Menthol Buffalo” coalition launched its campaign at Health Sciences Charter School Tuesday morning. Speakers included Dr. Maansi Bansal-Travers of Roswell Park, associate professor of oncology.

Dr. Bansal-Travers said menthol cigarettes have an appealing flavor, making them easier to smoke, and that tobacco companies have intentionally targeted Black Americans, as well as other economically and socially marginalized groups.

“Menthol cigarettes are the most commonly used flavored tobacco and removing menthol from cigarettes and cigar flavors would be a game-changer and save thousands of lives,” Dr. Bansal-Travers said, noting at the press conference Tuesday that tobacco consumption was reduced. associated with at least 12 types of cancer, among other diseases.

Pastor George Nicholas of Lincoln Memorial United Methodist Church, who is also CEO of the Buffalo Center for Health Equity, was another speaker at Tuesday’s conference.

“81 percent of Black Americans who smoke use menthol cigarettes, a significant increase from the 10 percent of Black Americans who smoked menthol cigarettes in the 1950s, before the tobacco industry began targeting the community African-American,” Nicholas said.

No Menthol Buffalo claims that “45,000 Black Americans die each year from illnesses caused by smoking.” More information on the No Menthol Buffalo campaign can be found here.