Biden's 11th Hour Proposal to Lower Nicotine in Cigarettes Clears FDA Review, Raises Organized Crime Concerns

Jan 7, 2025, 08:15 PM

The Biden administration is advancing a proposal to lower nicotine levels in cigarettes, a move that has cleared a regulatory review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This proposal, which aims to reduce the addictiveness of cigarettes and certain other combusted tobacco products, could effectively ban cigarettes currently on the market in favor of products with lower nicotine levels. Critics, including Rich Marianos, a former assistant director of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, argue that the change could inadvertently benefit organized crime cartels by boosting the black market for tobacco products. The FDA, led by Commissioner Robert Califf, has stated that the proposed rule, titled 'Tobacco Product Standard for Nicotine Level of Certain Tobacco Products,' completed its regulatory review on January 3, but has not yet been finalized. This 11th hour proposal is seen as a significant step in U.S. tobacco product regulation, aiming to help both current smokers quit and prevent future generations from becoming addicted.