Post by Logan on May 7, 2016 1:16:21 GMT -6
Legislation to raise the purchasing age for tobacco and electronic cigarette products from 18 to 21 in Illinois is unlikely to pass this spring, according Sen. John Mulroe, the bill’s sponsor.
The Chicago Democrat said he has struggled to get the necessary number of votes.
Mulroe has argued that increasing the purchasing age for cigarettes would keep a harmful product out of the hands of young teenagers and would reduce the $2 billion spent annually in state Medicaid to treat smoking-related illnesses.
“It’s an easy bill to understand, but people are really set in their ways and it’s hard to push them off their 'no' position, regardless of the merits of the bill,” Mulroe said. “There is a trifecta of benefits in saving people money, saving the state money and savings lives by stopping people from starting to smoke.”
Opponents have questioned the inclusion of electronic cigarette products, which have only been on the market in the U.S. for about 10 years, in the bill due to a lack of long-term evidence on their health consequences, as well as their use as a tool for people to stop smoking.
Read more: www.sj-r.com/news/20160506/bill-to-raise-cigarette-age-unlikely-to-pass-this-session
The Chicago Democrat said he has struggled to get the necessary number of votes.
Mulroe has argued that increasing the purchasing age for cigarettes would keep a harmful product out of the hands of young teenagers and would reduce the $2 billion spent annually in state Medicaid to treat smoking-related illnesses.
“It’s an easy bill to understand, but people are really set in their ways and it’s hard to push them off their 'no' position, regardless of the merits of the bill,” Mulroe said. “There is a trifecta of benefits in saving people money, saving the state money and savings lives by stopping people from starting to smoke.”
Opponents have questioned the inclusion of electronic cigarette products, which have only been on the market in the U.S. for about 10 years, in the bill due to a lack of long-term evidence on their health consequences, as well as their use as a tool for people to stop smoking.
Read more: www.sj-r.com/news/20160506/bill-to-raise-cigarette-age-unlikely-to-pass-this-session