Lewis's legislation increases tobacco sales from 18 to 21 years

A statement from the Office of the State Sen. Jason Lewis:

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Senate on Thursday passed a broad piece of legislation, sponsored by Senator Jason Lewis, aimed at reducing the access of young people with tobacco products and nicotine. Smoking and nicotine addiction remain the leading cause of preventable diseases and premature death in Massachusetts, responsible for more than $ 4 billion in annual health costs for the Commonwealth.

Young people are particularly sensitive to nicotine. The Bill, An Act to protect young people from the risks of smoking and nicotine addiction, increases the minimum legal age of sale for all tobacco products up to the age of 21 years old; adds vaping products to the Smoke-Free Workplace Act; "Massachusetts has long been a leader in protecting and strengthening public health," said Sen. Jason Lewis, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health and Bill. lead sponsor in the Senate. "This comprehensive legislation will once again put the Commonwealth in the vanguard of preventing youth addiction to tobacco and nicotine products to improve health, save lives and save lives." to reduce the costs of health care. "

to protect young people from the dangers of tobacco and nicotine to turn back now," said Attorney General Maura Healey, I congratulate the Senate for having adopted this important bill and helped to prevent another generation from becoming addicted to tobacco and nicotine. "

significantly over the past two decades, the use by young people of 39, other addictive tobacco products
such as electronic cigarettes, increase considerably While nicotine-based products such as electronic cigarettes
can sometimes help some nicotinic adults quit smoking traditional cigarettes, they represent a significant new threat to the health and well-being of young people n & # 39; have never used tobacco
.

To directly target the use of young people, this law increases the legal age of sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21. It is a proven and effective strategy for reduce youth smoking because it removes legally purchased tobacco products. networks. The city of Needham has cut youth smoking by 48 percent after becoming the first Massachusetts city to raise the legal age of sale to 21 years. According to the Institute of Medicine, increasing the age of 18 to 21 years will reduce the overall use of tobacco in a population. 12% – the equivalent of 150,000 Massachusetts tobacco consumers.

Meanwhile, the use of electronic cigarettes by young people has increased alarmingly, becoming an ubiquitous presence in our high schools. The provisions of this bill are inspired by the regulations promulgated in 2016 by the Attorney General
Maura Healey, and ensure that places without tobacco are also free of violence, including schools,
restaurants and workplaces. Smoking is the leading cause of death and preventable disease in Canada and 95% of all adult smokers start at age 21. If we can prevent young Massachusetts residents from buying tobacco up to the age of 21, we can save thousands of, "said Allyson Perron, senior director of government relations at the Massachusetts section of the American Heart Association, "Any steps we can take to prevent young people from taking this first life-threatening puff should be eagerly pursued. This important step in improving the health and well-being of our young residents.

This bill also prohibits the sale of tobacco products in health care facilities, including pharmacies,
policy already in place in more than 160 of our towns and villages, and a practice already adopted by companies
as CVS.

Other provisions included in the bill include a new authorization granted to the Department of Public Health
to regulate emerging new tobacco products; and the Health Information Center's demanding language and
Analysis to study the current benefits of smoking cessation offered by commercial insurers, MassHealth, and
the Group Insurance Commission.

Many cities have adopted policies to reduce smoking. and nicotine addiction that goes beyond federal laws and regulations and the current state of affairs, creating a mosaic of different laws in the Commonwealth
that can confuse retailers, distributors, consumers and consumers. responsible for public health. This law
will provide a uniform set of rules that protect youth and simplify the interaction
between our state and local laws.

The bill now returns to the House of Representatives of Massachusetts, where the bill was
absorbed, for enactment.