Smoking and weight loss

Did you know that 85% of Black smokers smoke menthol cigarettes and cigars? Matthew Perrone reports in AP.

The mint-flavored cigarettes are overwhelmingly used by young people and minorities, particularly Black smokers, 85% of whom smoke menthols. That compares to about a third of white smokers.

For decades, companies focused menthol marketing and promotions on Black communities, including sponsoring music festivals and neighborhood events. Company documents released via 1990s litigation also show companies viewed menthol cigarettes as good “starter” products because they were more palatable for teenagers .

About a third of all cigarettes sold in the U.S. are menthol and its elimination would be a huge blow to tobacco companies, including Altria and Reynolds American, maker of the leading menthol brands, Newport and Kool.

I read that RJ Reynolds was funding Al Sharpton's National Action Network to get Sharpton to make this a civil rights issue. How much is Sharpton being paid by big tobacco? I have not been able to get that question answered in my internet searches. But I did find several articles about his weight loss.