Oregon Close to Becoming Third State to Make T21 Law

Bill awaits expected OK by state Senate, Gov. Brown.

 

July 2017

 

SALEM – The number of states that ban the sale of tobacco products to consumers under the age of 21 is growing to three. The Oregon House of Representatives approved the bill to raise the legal minimum buying age to 21. The approval came from a 39-20 vote, eight Republican legislators and all but three Democrats voting in favor, per The Oregonian.

 

The legislation is now in the hands of the state Senate where legislators are expected to agree to House amendments. The bill would then go to Gov. Kate Brown to sign into law, which would go into effect immediately.

 

According to State Rep. Rich Vial (R-Scholls), keeping tobacco from adults under the age of 21 is saving lives and money, and that citizens in Oregon spend more than $3 billion a year treating tobacco-related illnesses. Data shows increasing the tobacco sales age to 21 would cut down these costs and save tens of thousands of lives.

 

However, some lawmakers opposed the measure. Rep. Paul Evans (D-Monmouth) said the bill is a “tragic case of overreach” and “liberty theft” that could lead to “opening Pandora’s box,” giving legislators a precedent to regulate unhealthy conduct, according to the news outlet.

 

Though the Tobacco 21 movements has been on local municipal agendas across the country, only three states have set 21 as the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products statewide. Hawaii was the first to do so as of Jan. 1, 2016, followed by California six months later.

 

SOURCE: “Oregon Close to Becoming Third State to Make T21 Law” by Convenience Store News http://www.csnews.com/product-categories/tobacco/oregon-close-becoming-third-state-make-t21-law