Lawmakers Weigh Increasing Smoking Age To 21

It would cost the state millions of dollars to do so, but public health advocates are once again pushing legislation that would raise the legal age for the purchase and use of tobacco products from 18 to 21. A similar effort was tried, but failed, in last year’s legislature. During debate over the bill last year, it was estimated raising the age would result in a $43 million revenue loss for the state.