The Biden administration has postponed the ban on menthol cigarettes, considering potential negative impacts on the president’s support among black voters.

Concerns from leaders in the black community suggest the ban could lead to an underground market, disproportionately affecting black smokers and inviting increased police targeting, the Washington Post reports.

With a significant decline in black community support for Biden, the administration is cautious, despite updated health guidance from the FDA and CDC. Data reveals that 81 percent of black smokers prefer menthol cigarettes.

Critics, including civil rights leader Al Sharpton and the ACLU, argue against the ban, emphasizing the potential for an underground market and racial profiling by law enforcement. Sharpton’s ties to R.J. Reynolds, the owner of a top-selling menthol cigarette brand, Newport, have raised questions about his stance.

The FDA had introduced regulations on menthol cigarettes in 2022 to address health issues associated with the product, initially planning to implement the ban in August.

However, the administration postponed the ban to January 2024 and has now set a new date for March 2024. Scientific research supports the ban, with the CDC stating that menthol increases the appeal and ease of smoking, enhancing nicotine’s addictive effects.

The CDC reports an estimated 10.1 million individuals starting menthol cigarette use between 1980 and 2018, leading to 378,000 premature deaths and three million years of potential life lost.