Second Pennsylvania Legislator Introduces Tobacco Purchase Age Increase Bill
The Tobacco 21 movement is likely to get a strong push in Pennsylvania during the upcoming legislative session, as a second legislator has introduced a bill seeking to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products and e-cigarettes to 21-years-old.
Rep. Greg Rothman, R-Cumberland, has introduced HB 1823, which is currently awaiting action in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The full text of Rothman’s bill is not yet available, but it would allow for an exemption from the increase for active duty members of the military with valid identification; those individuals would need to be 18-years-old to purchase tobacco or e-cigarettes.
“It is concerning that nearly half of graduating seniors in high school can legally purchase these potentially life-threatening products and share them with younger peers,” said Rothman via a press release. “This ‘social sourcing’ is a concern among parents and educators in my district and across the Commonwealth. We should be doing all we can to protect the health of our children during their developmental years.”
Rothman added that while he believes the steps that were taken at the federal level are helpful, Pennsylvania can do more to remove new and dangerous tobacco products from our schools.
The bill joins SB 473, sponsored by Sen. Mario Scavello, R-Monroe County, which was introduced in June and seeks a similar increase.
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.
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