Feldman: It's time for the government to ban menthol cigarettes, vapes Dr. Richard Feldman

In 2009, Congress enacted legislation authorizing the U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration to comprehensively regulate tobacco and nicotine products.

Included in that legislation was the prohibition of flavorings in cigarettes. But the statute excluded menthol as a compromise with the tobacco industry. The law did, however, allow the FDA to examine potential justifications for banning menthol based on public health benefits.