The Food and Drug Administration began working on a proposal that classifies menthol as a flavor -- and thus lead to its prohibition -- in 2021, and the rule was supposed to have been finalized last year. 

Health secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement the matter "has garnered historic attention and the public comment period has yielded an immense amount of feedback, including from various elements of the civil rights and criminal justice movement.

"It's clear that there are still more conversations to have, and that will take significantly more time," he added. 

Black smokers are far more likely to buy menthol cigarettes than white smokers, leading to claims from some -- including those with links to the tobacco industry -- that a ban would disproportionately impact African Americans.

Around eight in 10 African American smokers consume menthol cigarettes, compared with three in 10 white smokers.

"Smoking is bad for you, no question about it, but if it's a health issue, why aren't you banning all cigarettes?" Al Sharpton, a prominent civil rights activist and a vocal opponent of regulation, asked at an event in 2019.

In the lead up to the FDA proposal, he wrote a letter to the Biden White House saying "a menthol ban would exacerbate existing, simmering issues around racial profiling, discrimination and policing."

And with the presidential election approaching, Republican groups are looking to poach crucial African American votes.

In South Carolina, conservative group Building America's Future sent letters to around 75,000 Democrat voters in February listing Biden's proposed menthol cigarette ban as a reason not to vote for him in that month's primary vote. 

An ad from the group said Biden should focus on bigger priorities, rather than "telling adults what they can and can't do."

American Lung Association spokeswoman Erika Sward told AFP: "The president has failed to follow the science."

Menthol, she said, has certain anesthetic properties that help mask the harshness and irritation of tobacco smoke, which made it a gateway drug for regular cigarettes. 

"It makes the poison go down easier, which means that kids who experiment with cigarettes with menthol cigarettes are much more likely to go on to become addicted and the menthol in cigarettes also makes it harder for black individuals to quit," said Sward.

"The bottom line is that today's news is very disappointing and ultimately will lead to more deaths."

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the country, with some 480,000 tobacco-related fatalities recorded each year.

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