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FIFE, Washington. – Washington is on the verge of becoming the ninth state to rise to the age of 21 at the legal age for smoking and vaping. the week.
Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson and the Washington State Department of Health have insisted that this change be made, claiming that 95% of smokers begin to smoke before the ## 147 ###################################################################### 39, 21 years old.
However, some small vaping companies see gaps in the legislation.
"Our best customers have all left us together. We are like the Apple Store meets an AA meeting. We are doing something different here, "said Kim Thompson, owner of The Vaporium.
Thompson, once a cigarette smoker, said she has products that help her clients reduce their addiction to nicotine.
"We start them at a level of nicotine closer to the one currently absorbed by their cigarette.As they get used to the vaporizer and their new habit, they can begin to reduce their nicotine level", she explained.
RELATED: Increase the age of smoking to 21 pbadages of the Washington legislature
Thompson is also part of a non-profit organization called Pink Lung Brigade.
"The Pink Lung Brigade has just started a bit like a group of" nasty new "business owners who have really got into the business to help people quit but who have ended up needing some kind of business. 39; express to the capital, "said Thompson.
Lately, Thompson has often been to Olympia. One of the topics is Bill 1074, better known as T21.
"T21 groups together tobacco products and vapors under one bill," she explained.
The bill increases the legal age to buy these products from 18 to 21 years old.
"It's going to affect those who are between 18 and 20 years old and they will not be able to use what has become a very popular smoking cessation device," Thompson said.
While Thompson sees vaping as a way to stop smoking, Season Oltmann of the American Lung Association sees something else.
"78% of our high school students in Washington used e-cigs last year alone. It's one in five children, 20% of our children use vaping, "Oltmann said," Tobacco in Washington killed 8,200 people last year and this bill is helping us save lives. "
Oltmann is in favor of the bill, which awaits the signing of Governor Jay Inslee.
This week, Governor Inslee says in a tweet"# Tobacco21 is the most preventative and cost-effective policy we can adopt to protect the health of our young people, and I can not wait to sign it."
"We've already experienced prohibition, and what's happening is that the black market is growing," Thompson said. "This particular bill does not cover Internet sales, neighboring states or the 29 sovereign nations that are in Washington State."
Thompson makes known his opposition to the bill in his company.
"We will continue to fight," she said.
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