Health and Faith leaders are once again calling for the elimination of menthol tobacco products. Advocates are joining forces to mark “No Menthol Sunday” this weekend. Dr. Stephen Tipton is a pastor and an advisor for Wisconsin against tobacco.
“Across the country faith leaders will be sharing with their congregants about how menthol cigarettes and smoking is destroying our community, taking lives,” Tipton said.
Organizers are calling on the Biden administration to ban menthol cigarettes, a move which is being considered, but final action has been delayed. Tipton wants to change that.
“We need to be the voice that advocates for change, even all the way to the White House. People are dying of smoking related diseases, heart disease, lung cancer, throat cancer. As well as children with asthma [from] second-hand smoke.”
Delmonte Jefferson is Executive Director of the Center for Black Health and Equity. He says it is important for the faith community to get involved.
“They’ve got the audience that’s ready to be active, in terms of doing something, making a change, abstaining from this harmful product, or getting involved in organizational strategies to ban the sale of menthol-related tobacco products in their communities,” according to Jefferson.
Visit www.nomentholsunday.org, for more information.
