Arizona legislators may raise the state’s minimum age to use tobacco.
The Arizona House is considering legislation to bring state law in line with the federal minimum age of 21.
If passed, 18-year-olds who can now buy tobacco in Arizona would face a petty offense for the purchase. The same would apply to a person who knowingly sells, gives or furnishes a tobacco product to anyone under the age of 21.
Republican Rep. Matt Gress says the bill prevents harmful usage of cigarettes in children.
“The point of this bill is to protect minors and the lower you have the smoking age, the more minors who are going to get access to these cigarettes," he said.
However, not all Republicans agreed in supporting the bill. Rep. Alexander Kolodin noted 18-year-olds can join the military and vote, so why shouldn’t they be allowed to smoke?
Gress argued that the Constitution protects an 18-year-old's right to vote, but not to smoke.
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