Florida Representative to Pursue Tobacco Purchasing Age Increase

This week, Florida State Rep. Jackie Toledo, R-Tampa, held a press conference to announce that she will push to raise the state’s minimum age to purchase tobacco products and e-cigarettes to 21-years-old, a move that comes just over four months after a similar bill died in the state’s House of Representatives.

Toledo said that she sees “an alarming and urgent healthcare crisis” when it comes to the pervasiveness of vaping, e-cigarette and tobacco use among the state’s younger residents. Speaking in front of Tampa General Hospital, she said her bill is about saving lives and “protecting our children.”

In addition, Toledo’s bill would ban the use of flavorings in vaping liquids, something she said has been used to target children by way of products that taste like bubble gum and cotton candy.

Earlier this year, legislation to increase Florida’s minimum age to purchase tobacco passed the state Senate by a 33-6 vote, though House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Hialeah, refused to let it advance in the lower chamber, saying that that he felt that there are enough members of the House who feel that 18-years-old is the age when people are adults and thus able to make their own decisions.

Oliva is the former ceo of Oliva Cigar Co. and remains and advisor to the company.

However, with President Trump recently calling for a ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes, there may be more willingness from the Republican-led House to consider the bill this time.

A bill has yet to be introduced but is expected in the near future.