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(Washington, DC) – President Biden is pushing to lower the amount of nicotine allowed in cigarettes. During these closing days of his administration, Biden has made the move a priority.
Former White House physician Ronny Jackson — a Texas Congressman — is among doctors who oppose the plan. He suggests the rule change would push smokers to the black market, potentially at the benefit of Mexican cartels. Unregulated or off-market cigarettes also pose their own health risks.
The Biden White House describes the move as rooted in public health. The goal is to cut the amount of nicotine in cigarettes — in a bid to make it less likely new smokers will get hooked. Nicotine is considered highly addictive. Meanwhile, the CDC calls smoking the leading preventative cause of death in the US. Each year, smoking is linked to around 480,000 deaths.
This is not the first time the Biden administration has tried to put more restrictions on smoking. A previous push to ban menthol cigarettes fell flat. Health officials have also pushed for bans on flavored vapes in recent years, under the argument that teens are more likely to become addicted.
