In an effort led by Sarah Mills, ASPiRE has filed a public comment with the Food and Drug Administration describing the public-health benefits of a comprehensive ban on the sale of menthol-flavored cigarettes, proposed by the FDA in April. The filing cited numerous studies that provide evidence that menthol is associated with the initiation of smoking among specific populations. “Removing menthol cigarettes from the market may reduce smoking among individuals with serious mental illness and other populations who use menthol cigarettes at high rates by reducing smoking initiation and increasing cessation among current smokers,” advises the comment.  It adds that a ban would reduce disparities in smoking. Read the public comment.