THE California Senate on Thursday, March 10, approved a measure that raises the legal smoking age from 18 to 21.
Last week, the state Assembly voted in favor of the same bill, which was part of a six-bill package aimed at restricting access to tobacco.
If Gov. Jerry Brown signs off on the legislation, California would become the second state after Hawaii to raise the legal smoking age to 21. More than 100 cities across the United States, including Boston and New York, have already raised the age limit.
“We can prevent countless California youth from becoming addicted to this deadly drug, save billions of dollars in direct health care costs and, most importantly, save lives,” said Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina), who authored the bill.
An exception remains for members of the military, who can continue purchasing cigarettes at the age of 18.
Proponents of the bill argued that many smokers begin the habit before they turn 18, according to data from the US surgeon general. Setting the legal smoking age to 21 would make it more challenging for
Those against the measure cited that Americans are allowed to make adult decisions, vote, sign legally binding contracts and join the military, among other things.
In response, Democrats revised the legislation for military members.
The bill received strong opposition from many Republicans, who say it infringes on individuals’ personal health decisions.
“I don’t smoke. I don’t encourage my children to,” said Assemblyman Donald Wagner (R-Irvine), KQED reported. “But they’re adults, and it’s our job to treat our citizens as adults, not to nanny them.”
The Los Angeles Times in an editorial also argues the bill package “tramples” on smokers’ rights, saying there is no evidence that second-hand smoke from e-cigarettes is as harmful as that from regular cigarettes. It further stated that the exemption for military men and women demonstrates a lack of integrity.
“What? The health of young Americans is a concern unless they are in the military service?” the editorial read.
Other measures in the package would expand smoking bans at more schools and allow counties to impose higher cigarette taxes on top of California’s 87-cent tax per pack. Smoke-free areas would also include small businesses, warehouses, workplace break rooms, bars, and hotel lobbies and meeting rooms.
Approval by the state legislature comes just a little more than a week after San Francisco officials voted to raise the smoking age to 21.
Should Brown sign the bill, the legislation would be implemented 90 days afterward.
