Idaho could join the small group of states to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21-years-old, as a bill has been introduced into the state Senate.

S.B. 1255 was introduced by Sen. Fred Martin, R-Boise, who tried to pass similar legislation in 2017, only to have it die in the Senate State Affairs Committee. Martin told the Idaho County Free Press that he revised the bill based on feedback from the previous session, as well as received an attorney general opinion on the constitutionally of the proposal.

If it passes, it would be illegal for a person under 21-years-old to purchase or possess tobacco and alternative tobacco products.

The bill has once again been referred to the Senate’s State Affairs Committee.

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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.