My dad died last summer of a smoking-caused illness. His mother died of lung cancer after smoking menthol cigarettes for six decades.

Adding mental to cigarettes is just one way the tobacco industry makes cigarettes more appealing to first-time smokers and more addictive when they start.

I know removing menthol cigarettes from the market is going to cause a lot of people a lot of immediate pain, but I sincerely hope communities band together and encourage one another to take this opportunity to stop smoking.

My dad would be happy and healthy to this day if he had been able to do that. My grandmother would have led the family with grace and courage for many more years than she did, if only she’d quit.

I know this is going to be really hard for people, but I hope we can focus on all the kids who aren’t going to start smoking. We owe this to them.