After years of discussion, New Jersey could soon become the third state in the nation to ban menthol-flavored cigarettes and cigars, addictive products that public health experts say appeal to underage smokers and minority communities, as a state legislative panel approved the latest version of the proposal Monday.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been working since 2021 on a separate track to enact a national ban, sending final rules to the White House Office of Management and Budget in the last few weeks.