Black activists and health experts are taking their fight against menthol cigarettes to President Barack Obama, reports The New York Times.
Menthol cigarettes, made with mint flavoring, are popular among black smokers, and account for about 33 percent of all cigarettes sold in this country, according to the article, which cites federal surveys.
The group of black activists and health experts in a recent appeal to President Barack Obama argued that the issue was about health, but also social justice, the report states.
"What we're trying to do is involve the president of the United States in this discussion," Phillip Gardiner, a chairman of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council, said, according to The New York Times. "We die disproportionately of cancer-related diseases. Part of what has taken place here is the use of menthol cigarettes."
The call to action comes three years after the Food and Drug Administration said research showed that the mint flavoring made it easier to start smoking and harder to quit. However, no subsequent action was taken.
The FDA said it had received more than 175,000 public comments in response after its 2013 findings were revealed, according to the article. A spokesman, Michael Felberbaum, said in the article the agency "is continuing to consider regulatory options related to menthol."