For the second year in a row, a Senate committee in the state of Idaho in the United States rejected legislation proposed by health advocates that provided for raising the legal age for purchasing tobacco or vaping products from 18 to 21 years old.
"WHEN YOU ARE AT HIGH SCHOOL, THE LAWS DON'T MEAN BIG THING"
This is yet another disappointment for health advocates who wanted to see the legal age for purchasing tobacco and vaping products increased from 18 to 21 in the state of Idaho. For the second year in a row, the legislation was rejected but this time only three members of the Senate Committee on State Affairs were “for” while the previous year the vote had been close (5 votes “against” / 4 voice “for”).
For some, the bill could have saved lives and millions of dollars in health care costs. This would have applied to both tobacco and vaping, which they say is becoming more and more popular among teenagers.
Senator Steve Vick, R-Dalton Gardens, said that at 18 people are allowed to make other life-changing choices such as getting married. " If it was enough to pass a law to solve these problems, we would probably have a lot more laws and a lot less problems." , did he declare.
« Unfortunately, my experience has shown me that it doesn't work like that. … It interferes with the legal capacity that we give to an adult to make decisions. »
Le Senator Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian says "At school, our children have to educate each other with peer pressure»,. She explains for her part that she started smoking at the age of 14 before quitting.
« It was illegal to smoke, but I didn't care because my friends accepted it. When you're in high school, laws don't mean much. »
It took almost two hours of testimony and debate on the bill before it was defeated. Chances are the subject will come up again next year.
