From some scant reading I've done on the subject of the menthol cigarette ban, it seems that this health issue is related to increased smoking during the COVID-19 pandemic, esp in the African American community. The assumption is that because smoking is bad for your health and respiration, it will make the pandemic worse for the black community, a hard hit segment of the population.

I won't go into the already debated theories on how nicotine prevents a cytokine storm from COVID-19. Below is information from the NIH on that subject.


Nicotine can selectively reduce the inflammatory response in various infection states, including Legionella pneumophila and Chlamydia pneumoniae infection, via the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway [6]. Nicotine is an agonist at the α7 subunit of nicotinic acetylcholine (α7-nACh) receptors on innate immune cells such as macrophages. These receptors respond to acetylcholine from different sources, including other immune cells and the vagus nerve, and their activation causes suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Nicotine is able to suppress the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by mimicking the binding of acetylcholine.




In the absence of any effective treatment for COVID-19, further research as to whether nicotine replacement offers protection against severe SAR-CoV-2 infection in smokers is clearly essential. If the mechanisms through which nicotine may interact with the virus remain speculative, the effects of route of administration, duration, dosing and frequency of use of nicotine on any such interaction are unknown.



NIH LINK

There is evidence that states "Nicotine is able to suppress the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines", but of course, "Smoking bad! Quit smoking!".

But what of menthol? I remember the reports made early in the pandemic that people in India and in other areas were using Vicks or other products in boiling water and breathing the vapors to treat or prevent COVID-19. That idea was quickly shot down and claimed to cause health problems and was useless against COVID. So I looked into the use of menthol in treating COVID, if there were any studies that found a connection to the virus and menthol. I found only one from a dubious source about a Jamaican study published by "The Gleaner" in Jamaica.


“It is the opinion of this research team and inventor that the menthol crystal fume attaches to the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract in the form of micro spikes or cilia (pseudo-cilia). It is this pseudo-cilia, or spikes, that prevent the binding of the S protein of the COVID-19 virus to the ACE-2 receptors on the human cells, thus preventing a successful invasion into the body by the virus,” said Christopher Ogunsalu.



The Gleaner Article Link

This Nigerian-born Dr. Christopher Ogunsalu is certainly not a trust worthy professional scientist IMO. Here is his very minimal linked in bio.


Christopher Ogunsalu
DENTIST, MEDICAL DOCTOR, MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEON & RADIOLOGIST
Ibadan University



His credentials hardly makes this guy an expert on the COVID virus, but it gets better.


BACKGROUND checks on controversial dentist, Nigerian-born Dr Christopher Ogunsalu have revealed that he was charged in 2007 with assaulting a female assistant during a dispute at his Montego Bay office in St James.
The dental specialist triggered a firestorm recently by requesting $1.8 million for the release of his findings from an analysis of remains believed to be those of murdered Trinidadian school teacher Michelle Coudray-Greaves before producing the report to the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday morning.
At the same time, Coudray-Greaves' mother has expressed disappointment at Ogunsalu's action, which had stalled the murder case and caused much pain to loved ones.



Jamaica Observer Article

Given that this article from The Gleaner is identical in every source, and this study group, although the members were named, had no official name or website I could find, it looks very questionable, like some kind of scam. However, the good doctor has a device he invented for the use of menthol to prevent COVID infection. An advertisement for some quack snake oil perhaps?



But can the finding be used, and how? Daniel Ogunsalu, a UWI, Mona, undergraduate student, has developed methods by which menthol crystal can be used to prevention COVID-19, including a self-assembled device to replace the face mask comprising a face shield attached to eyeglasses with a slot for a menthol pack. This slot will carry a replaceable perforated cassette (plastic or paper). Larger cassettes have also been devised to be used in houses, offices, and inside motor vehicles. Alternatively, he said, the shield could be mentholated overnight in a container.

. . . The team has decided not to patent its discovery so it can be immediately engaged in the global fight against COVID-19, especially with many developing countries being left behind in the vaccination race.



Breaking Belize News Link

I could find no legitimate source that would support this group's claims, so I am left with this highly questionable study from a Nigerian born doctor practicing dentistry in Jamaica.

Be that as it may, I'm still left wondering if this ban on menthol cigarettes is a potential cover up or worse, to intentionally drive up the mortality of the pandemic, specifically in the black community.