Should each state raise the smoking age to 21?

Did you see that following Hawaii’s example, California became the second state in America to raise the smoking age to 21? The law was signed on May 4, 2016 and goes into effect after ninety days. Hawaii’s law was effective on January 1, 2016. The laws also apply to e-cigarettes.

What do you think of this trend away from teen smoking? Is it more government interference with personal decisions? Or does the state need to step in to protect you from making unhealthy decisions?

From previous posts we’ve written on AsktheJudge.info, you should be aware of the health statistics regarding the use of tobacco. For example, take a look at these two posts:

Teen substance use is America’s #1 public health problem

Teens using e-cigarettes to vaporize marijuana

Habits are hard to break, especially ones developed as a teenager and carried into adulthood. It’s your call, a healthy future or one nagged by medical issues?

Update on e-cigarettes:  In a surprise move, the Federal Drug Administration passed rules on May 5, 2016 prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. The restriction goes into effect in August, 2016. The rules also impose regulations on hookah and pipe tobacco, as well as all cigars.

Update on tobacco products for anyone under 21: In December, 2019, a presidential executive order banned tobacco products for anyone under 21. The ban includes e-cigarettes, cigars and hookah tobacco.

Smoking is the largest cause of preventable death, with more than 480,000 tobacco-related deaths each year in the United States. Forty million American adults smoke.

Photo by Valentin Ottone