Biden's last chance to tackle tobacco: Limiting nicotine levels in cigarettes

In its last few days of power, the Biden administration is expected to officially propose a limit on nicotine in cigarettes. It’d be a last-minute move to push back against the tobacco industry after President Joe Biden failed to finalize a long-standing pledge to ban menthol cigarettes. 

The proposal, which could come as soon as Monday, is not expected to include tobacco products like e-cigarettes or nicotine replacement patches and lozenges.

“This is a Hail Mary from the Biden administration to move forward with a meaningful proposal, or at least to jump-start one in the waning days of the administration,” said Erika Sward, assistant vice president of national advocacy for the American Lung Association.

While it’s the toxins released by combustible tobacco that cause chronic illnesses and death associated with smoking, it’s nicotine that first gets people hooked, and then keeps them coming back.

Precise details of the proposal to cap nicotine levels have not been released. Multiple studies have suggested, however, that levels may have to be slashed by up to 95% to make them minimally or non-addictive.

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