The Black Farmers Association (NBFA) is calling on the government to end the ban on menthol tobacco products. NBFA, which has 130,000 members in 47 states, has launched a national petition on its website to seek support.
John Boyd, founder and president of NBFA, said the ban on menthol cigarettes could lead to lower incomes for tobacco farmers and even widespread unemployment. A study by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health shows that 40% of adult smokers in the United States use menthol cigarettes, and more than 80% of black smokers use menthol cigarettes.