Bills Take Aim At Smoking Age, Where E-Cigarettes Are Sold In Calif.
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - The California senate passed a bill today that would raise the legal age to buy cigarettes from 18 to 21 years old. Lawmakers are also going after e-cigarettes.
If these two bills become law, there will be sweeping changes to California's smoking laws: not only how early people are allowed to buy cigarettes, but where they are allowed to use e-cigarettes.
"It's not good for me; it's not good for the younger ones," said Linda Pahlman, a smoker.
Pahlman lights up in a West Sacramento parking lot.
"I'm gonna be 50 in October and that's my goal, to quit smoking," she said.
Pahlman says she started when she was 16. Count her among the supporters of a senate bill passed by a wide margin Tuesday meant to keep teens from smoking. It would raise California's legal age to buy cigarettes from 18 to 21. The bill passed with little debate and bipartisan support.
"I think they should actually raise it to 21. It's not good for you. I'm sitting here smoking; it's not a good thing," said Pahlman.
Not everyone believes the bill will work. One argument we heard is if you're old enough to vote at age 18, you're old enough to make your own decisions about smoking.
"I don't think passing another law is going to change anything. You're still not going to be able to stop people from smoking," said Arun Sundaresen, who is against increasing the smoking age.
A separate bill that just passed takes aim at increasingly popular e-cigarettes. It would treat e-cigarettes just like regular cigarettes, banning them in public places like restaurants, buses and hospitals.
The democratic lawmakers' bills are now headed to the assembly. California would become the first or second state to raise its smoking age. Hawaii's governor has a similar bill on his desk.
