ALBANY – The American Lung
Association, American American Cancer Society and Cancer Action Network
are urging the state legislature to approve raising the legal age to buy
tobacco products to from 18 to 21.
Orange County just did that. Ulster and Sullivan counties are considering it.
Christina Wieneke, director of public policy for the American Lung Association, said it boils down to a public health issue.
“Over 200 municipalities have already passed this law,” Wieneke said. “It is a common sense piece of legislation any of the arguments against it seem redundant in the face of the huge public health burden that there is related to lung disease.”
Some 95 percent of people start smoking before they are 21, so by raising
the age, the social sources where children get their cigarettes can be
taken away from them.
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