The Canadian Cancer Society is criticizing new menthol capsule cigarettes as the latest gimmick to attract kids to smoking.
When the filter is squeezed, the capsule is crushed, releasing a burst of menthol flavour to make the smoking experience less harsh.
Rob Cunningham says it seems they are taking one step forward and two steps back in on-going anti-smoking lobbying efforts.
Cunningham says the tobacco industry has a bottomless pit of creativity when it comes to new ways to market its deadly products.
He notes in order to protect kids, it’s essential that legislation prohibiting menthol comes into effect as soon as possible.
Ontario has brought forward legislation to ban menthol cigarettes but Cunningham is concerned kids will get hooked on the product before it becomes law.
Cunningham stresses federal tobacco legislation is woefully out of date and needs to be modernized, one of the promises made by the Liberal government during the election campaign.
A recent Youth Smoking Survey found that, of high school students who smoke, 29% smoke menthol.
