The Biden administration is expected to announce a move to ban menthol cigarettes this week.
The Washington Post reports the ban will likely be announced on Thursday, which is the deadline for the Food and Drug Administration to respond to a 2013 citizen petition in favor of the ban.
About 20 million Americans smoke menthols.
The FDA previously banned all other flavors of cigarettes in 2009.
The administration is also expected to announce that they will move to ban methol and other flavors of mass-produced cigars, including small cigars or cigarillos.
A ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars does not need Congressional approval, but it will still be subject to a lengthy rules process and likely face legal challenges by the tobacco industry.
Despite overall success in lowering smoking rates, tobacco is still a leading cause of illness and death, especially in people of color.
Anti-smoking and civil rights groups say that the industry disproportionately targets Black communities and young people.
In the 50’s, only about 10% of Black smokers chose menthol cigarettes, but that figure has since risen to more than 85%. Civil rights groups say the industry has heavily targeted the Black community through advertising, sponsoring events and giving away menthol cigarettes for free.
Studies show that menthols can be more addictive than other cigarettes and researchers say the flavoring masks the irritation that cigarettes cause.