Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday signed a pack of bills that will raise the smoking age in California from 18 to 21, restrict the use of electronic cigarettes in public places and expand no-smoking areas at public schools.
According to L.A. Times, Governor Brown vetoed a bill that would have allowed counties to seek voter approval of local tobacco taxes to pay for healthcare expenses for those with tobacco-related illnesses.
Brown’s signature makes California the second state in the nation to raise the tobacco age to 21, following Hawaii.
Some 90% of tobacco users start before the age of 21, and about 80% first try tobacco before age 18, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
So, what do you think of this new law? It could be a really good thing, it could save many lives!
