Arkansas Legislator Introduces Tobacco Purchasing Age Increase Bill

Add Arkansas to the growing list of states that will consider raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21-years-old this session, as a bill has been introduced into the state House of Representatives seeking to do just that.

The bill, H.B. 1519, was filed into the House on Tuesday by Rep. Lee Johnson, R-Greenwood, and has already garnered the support of 13 other representatives and four state senators.

It would not only make the purchase of tobacco products by someone under 21-years-old illegal, it would also apply to the possession and use of tobacco, as well as vapor products, alternative nicotine products, e-liquid products, and cigarette papers. The bill does create an exemption for a person who is an active member of the United States Armed Forces and can produce valid identification, meaning they would only be required to be 18-years-old to purchase, possess or use such products.

The bill is currently awaiting assignment to a committee.

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.