As a community committed to public health and equity, we now face a pivotal moment in Kansas City. The City Council is considering a comprehensive flavor ban ordinance that seeks to prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco, nicotine and vapor products that lack approval from the Food and Drug Administration. However, this legislation is under serious threat from powerful lobbyists and misguided council members, who want to water it down to exclude menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars — leaving the most dangerous products on the shelves.
Councilwoman Melissa Patterson-Hazley, co-sponsor of this crucial legislation, has rightly pointed out the systemic racism that runs deep in the tobacco industry’s targeting of communities of color. As she said during the Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee meeting: “It always sticks out to me when a product or behavior is proven to be harmful and then layered on top of that is targeted toward a certain population. That’s when we start talking about structural racism.” Patterson-Hazley explained: “I hear (the concern) about the personal choice of the individual — believe me. But I think that there’s so much manipulation in the market. Where does choice even begin when you’re being targeted?”
For decades, menthol flavors have been the very tool used to exploit and harm Black people , with a staggering 86% of Black smokers using menthol cigarettes. This isn’t about choice — it’s about exploitation that has persisted for far too long. We are at a critical juncture, yet some council members are caving to the false narratives pushed by tobacco-funded research that makes multiple false claims– including that restricting flavored products violates the rights of consenting adults. But let’s be real: Coercion, manipulation and addiction are not choices.
The industry has flooded Kansas City’s communities of color, especially in districts such as the 5th, with tobacco ads placed right next to candy in stores, preying on our youth and vulnerable populations’ systemic stresses. Meanwhile, predominantly white districts such as the 1st and 2nd have far fewer of these manipulative ads. How can we ignore this glaring inequality any longer?
Let’s be clear: This ban isn’t about taking away anyone’s choice to smoke. It’s about stripping the tobacco industry of its most insidious weapon — flavored products. For decades, sweet, fruity and minty flavors have masked the harshness of tobacco, making it easier for people to start and harder for them to quit. Keeping these products on the market doesn’t protect personal choice — it protects the industry’s ability to exploit and manipulate, particularly in communities of color, where menthol cigarettes and flavored products have been relentlessly pushed. True choice means freedom from manipulation, and that freedom comes only when we remove the very products designed to trap people in a cycle of addiction.
The targeting of Black and Latino communities has created a public health crisis, with far higher rates of addiction, lung cancer and heart disease. It’s not accidental — it’s deliberate. The tobacco industry knows exactly what it’s doing by flooding these neighborhoods with flavored products and culturally manipulative marketing . Banning all flavored tobacco products is a crucial first step to break the cycle of addiction and dismantle the systemic injustices that have plagued our city for decades.
Kansas City spends nearly $50 million annually on its health levy, and tobacco-related illnesses are a significant contributor. Research shows that 80-90% of all lung cancer cases can be directly linked to tobacco usage. If we’re serious about improving public health, this ordinance must pass with no exemptions.
The United States Conference of Mayors, which Kansas City most recently hosted, has endorsed an all-flavored-products ban —bipartisan and with wide support. It’s shameful that our City Council is even considering weakening this ordinance. The math is clear: This isn’t about taking away “choice.” It’s about saving lives.
If some City Council members are truly concerned about what the community wants, they should look to national leaders and credible research — not tobacco industry-funded lies. The NAACP has long supported a menthol ban and written extensively on the harms these products inflict on communities of color. This year, research released proved that large majorities of Black voters support flavor bans. We urge the council to stand with the community, not the industry.
Kansas City can no longer turn a blind eye to the exploitation and harm being done to our most vulnerable residents. The future health of our community depends on a full ban of all flavored tobacco products. Let this be the moment we address systemic racism and prioritize public health. Together, let’s push for a healthier, more just Kansas City.
D.J. Yearwood is the 2023 National Youth Advocate of the Year Award recipient for the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. He is a former legislative assistant for City Council member Melissa Patterson-Hazley.
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