Supreme Court REJECTS challenge to California law banning menthol cigarettes as Biden-backed federal ban remains in limbo amid growing opposition from Black voters

The Supreme Court rejected an challenge to California's ban on menthol cigarettes as a similar national ban on flavored tobacco proposed by Biden remains in limbo.

On Monday, the Supreme Court declined to hear a case brought by RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company challenging the Democrats' ban on flavored cigarettes.

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the ban in 2020 in an effort to halt the use of e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco by teens and younger Americans. California is the second state in the country after Massachusetts to implement such a ban.

Last month, the Biden administration decided to implement a similar nationwide ban on menthol cigarettes amid political opposition and warnings that the move could anger Black voters who have drifted away from the president in the polls.

A series of recent polls show that President Biden's proposed ban on menthol cigarettes could have “unintended consequences” for him at the 2024 ballot box.

A series of recent polls show that President Biden's proposed ban on menthol cigarettes could have “unintended consequences” for him at the 2024 ballot box.

Recent survey results obtained by DailyMail.com show that more than six in 10 voters nationwide agree that bans on menthol cigarettes will disproportionately harm minority communities — and that includes 63 percent of Democrats.

The board is now expected to announce that the rule will be finalized in March. That would mean another delay, after an expected rollout in August was postponed until January.

The FDA announced new standards banning menthol cigarettes in 2022, in a move aimed at addressing illness and death from a product originally marketed to African American smokers.

Among black smokers, 81 percent choose menthol cigarettes Figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), quoted by the Washington Post.

The move comes amid polls showing that while Biden's support among Black voters remains high compared to other groups, slipamid generally low approval ratings, putting him in a tough race against former President Donald Trump, who has built a lead over his rival even as he refuses to rule out being a dictator.

The regulatory move has sparked a debate between parties focused on potential health benefits and the ACLU and other groups that say it would go after a specific group of smokers and lead to black market sales.

Possible unintended consequences could include shifting production to China and risky sales from the trunk of cars.

Republicans in the House of Representatives announced Last month they examined the pressure on regulations.

The CDC has issued warnings based on scientific research that “menthol in cigarettes increases the likelihood that youth and young adults will try to smoke and that those who start smoking will continue to smoke regularly.”

'Menthol makes cigarettes more attractive and easier to smoke,” the CDC said. 'Moreover, menthol enhances the addictive effect of nicotine in the brain. The amount of nicotine, the addictive drug in tobacco products, in menthol cigarettes has increased in recent years.”

It cited data showing that 10.1 million people started smoking between 1980 and 2018 thanks to menthol cigarettes, which it estimated resulted in 378,000 premature. The agency added up the totals, 3 million years of 'potential life lost' during this period.

The Biden administration is expected to again delay final rulemaking on a proposed ban on menthol cigarettes

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer told DailyMail.com in a statement: “Joe Biden's decision to pursue a ban on menthol cigarettes is a disgusting overreach of power and a slap in the face to millions of Americans.”

In addition, law enforcement officials previously told DailyMail.com that the ban would lead to an increase in black market trafficking, cartel and gang violence and unregulated cigarettes – which could be laced with dangerous drugs including fentanyl.

And it will impact minority communities the most, because menthols are smoked primarily by black and Latino communities — by more than 80 percent — said retired New York State Police officer Elliot Boyce.

The Biden administration is also facing criticism for pushing for the menthol ban while moving to decriminalize marijuana.

However, top Biden administration officials have insisted that criminalizing menthols would help Americans become less addicted over time.

“The proposed rules would help prevent children from becoming the next generation of smokers and help adult smokers quit,” says HHS Sec. Xavier Becerra said it before.

“Additionally, the proposed rules represent an important step to advance health equity by significantly reducing tobacco-related health disparities,” he continued.