Push is on to ban menthol cigarettes in City of Buffalo

"Menthol is the flavor that attracts and nicotine addicts. Menthol, itself, sweetens to poison"
Menthol cigarettes
Photo credit Mario Tama - Getty Images

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - After New York Gov. Kathy Hochul pushed to ban the sale of menthol and flavored cigarettes across the state as part of her budget this past spring, one local group is advocating for a ban on menthol cigarettes in the City of Buffalo.

Stan Martin, CEO and Founder of Stan Martin Consulting, is looking to make Buffalo a healthier city for all by pushing to remove and ban menthol and flavored tobacco within the community. He says it's all an initiative to save more lives, no matter what the age.

"When you look at the science, when you look at the data, menthol tobacco, in particular, over 85% of those who smoke tobacco, smoke menthol [are] African Americans. In addition to that, 45,000 African Americans or those who identify with the black diaspora die annually as a result of menthol tobacco use," said Martin in an interview with WBEN. "One of the things that's important is, based upon the tobacco industry documents, menthol is the flavor that attracts and nicotine addicts. Menthol, itself, sweetens to poison, as we like to say in tobacco control."

According to Martin, this initiative is not intended to come out against those who smoke or those that utilize tobacco, rather it's against the tobacco industry intentionally targeting and marketing a deadly product that kills several people every year.

Martin says in the City of Buffalo, the vast majority of youth who smoke start smoking with flavored tobacco. He feels if you remove menthol and flavored cigarettes from the community, it will decrease the chances of young people getting addicted and hooked onto harmful tobacco products.

"Moving forward, by reducing the proximity and the amount of tobacco retailers that sell tobacco, tobacco products near our schools, near our playgrounds, where we live, work, play, and even pray and learn, is essential to protect the next generation of youth from becoming replacement smokers," Martin said. "I think ordinance, in that regard, that really address all flavors of tobacco, including menthol tobacco, is a step in the right direction."

So what's the next course of action to get this initiative rolling along, and potentially in front of city officials to vote on in the future? Martin says it starts with demonstrating the already present community will and community support for this type of effort.

"We certainly have been able to engage faith leaders from both sides of the aisle, and I think it's important we, as citizens of this community, can be able to share and educate our elected officials on how this is not about race, this is not about policing, this is really about saving lives," he said. "I think just having these continued conversations will certainly be important, in terms of moving in the right direction.

"We also know that tobacco use is the No. 1 preventable cause of death. We feel as though with those who I'm working with in this area, this will be important to help fulfill, I would say, the mission and vision of a healthier Buffalo.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Mario Tama - Getty Images