Well, the ban on menthol cigarettes appears closer than ever, with both the state legislature and the FDA making moves to take the highly addictive products off the market.

And today, a group of stakeholders met at Rutgers University to go over first of its kind research into tobacco use.

The school has been tracking consumer behavior and found despite age restrictions and bans on other certain nicotine products, they're still ending up in the hands of our youth.

Senior Correspondent Brenda Flanagan reports.

I just I see vaping and e-cigarettes very prevalent across campus.

I could smell like mango, cotton candy.

This Rutgers junior says on campuses in a neighborhoods across New Jersey, flavored tobacco is pretty common.

Despite state laws and FDA regulations against candy and fruit flavored e-cigarettes.

That, according to experts at this Rutgers roundtable, they're trying to keep young folks from a lifetime of nicotine addiction.

Menthol is still legal, and anti tobacco advocates say it's a student favorite for menthol.

The common argument that I hear is that like, oh, it's like, cool.

It numbs your throat.

It's not harmful.

It's not addictive.

What we're trying to do is ensure.

That everyone has an opportunity to make the.

Right decision.

Historically marketed to the black community by big tobacco, menthol flavored tobacco products comprise some 40% of New Jersey tobacco sales.

One poll showed 80% of black adults who smoke cigarets prefer menthol.

And when an advocacy group sent underage members out around New Jersey to see what they could buy, they logged 192 underage tobacco sales.

And out of those 192.

64% of those were for menthol cigarets.

What does that tell you?

That tells us that a lot of young people are using menthol cigarets because of, you know, there's no harshness when you inhale.

They're easier to get addicted to.

Meanwhile, the Rutgers Institute for Nicotine and Tobacco Studies also investigated what's on retail shelves in New Jersey and weren't surprised, says director Christina Delnevo.

He did about 600 buys this summer for a variety of different kinds of tobacco products.

And our berates were about 40%.

She says they discovered this rainbow of vape products made and sold by a company called Lava in North Jersey.

New Jersey banned flavored e-cigarettes a number of years ago.

But these products were all bought by 18 to 20 year old underage buyers in New Jersey stores.

So they should not be on the market in New Jersey.

Additionally, they don't have FDA marketing authorization.

Andrea Spotlight News Call the lava company in Clifton about how they manufacture and market these products.

They hung up on us twice.

Well, I think it just highlights the fact that the tobacco companies are trying to use flavors as a way of inducing young people to vape or smoke.

One recent study shows teens who vape for just one month can experience significant respiratory issues like shortness of breath and a heightened risk of bronchitis.

Congressman Frank Pallone expects federal action soon.

The FDA is supposed to, by the end of this month, pass a rule that says no more menthol products.

But, you know, we'll see.

I mean, it may take a while for that to take effect.

A bill to ban menthol products currently awaits action in New Jersey's legislature.

It's been opposed by Jersey's Food Council, which argues it could impact sales at small stores.

And some lawmakers argue New Jersey should educate rather than enforce.

But Del Nevo has thoughts about that.

There is really not enough effort put into enforcement and it's left to the local municipalities to follow up on.

So passing the law is just the first step, but we need to be doing more on the enforcement side.

I'm Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.

Support for the medical report is provided by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.