Tobacco 21 passes first vote in St. Louis County

[user12345]

After becoming law in 2 states and over 190 cities and counting, Tobacco 21 has jumped its first hurdle to becoming law in St. Louis county. The final council vote will be on September 6th.  This passing is especially imporant to me as I have been workly closly with the STL coalition that began the push for this legislation and it feels surreal to work hard for something and then it being so close to becoming law.
http://kplr11.com/2016/08/30/st-louis-county-moves-one-step-closer-to-upping-the-age-to-purchase-tobacco-products/

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Lame.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

What is the point of preserving human life if all of life is pain?

[Figueira]

I'm not a huge fan of age limits that are higher than 18.

[RFayette]

What is the point of preserving human life if all of life is pain?

Because it'd be a lot more painful with a black lung.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

What is the point of preserving human life if all of life is pain?

Because it'd be a lot more painful with a black lung.

Rather have a good life with black lungs than a bad one without them. We all die of something sometime.

[Ebowed]

I wouldn't support this, simply because if we allow people to join the military or get married, they should be able to make decisions about what substances they use.  The drinking age should be lowered in order to resolve the present inconsistency.

However, I am sympathetic to the thinking here, which is that the vast majority of smokers become addicted as young people.  Strictly enforcing smoking bans among minors does make a difference in reducing the overall number of people who become addicted and continue smoking.  We can only assume that increasing the difficulty in young people getting cigarettes will hasten the decline in smoking rates.

So, can't say I agree with the means but I certainly hope that the policy is successful in what in aims to do if it is enacted.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

I don't think, ultimately, I could be persuaded to support this, simply because if we allow people to join the military or get married, they should be able to make decisions about what substances they use.  The drinking age should be lowered in order to resolve the present inconsistency.

This, although I don't support legalization of hard drugs aside from Marijuana.

[NeverAgain]

Good. I hope this trend continues!

[Mr. Reactionary]

Lame.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

I'm not a huge fan of age limits that are higher than 18.

Retirement?

[Badger]

What is the point of preserving human life if all of life is pain?

Because it'd be a lot more painful with a black lung.

Rather have a good life with black lungs than a bad one without them. We all die of something sometime.

That's exactly the level of immature teenage mindset that makes such a compelling argument in favor of this measure.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Meh. I kind of think selling tobacco to anyone should be illegal, but I'm against age restrictions above 18 on principle.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Average age to start smoking is 13.  So the black market is already healthy, but I'm sure those dealers will appreciate the help here that these laws will provide.   I dunno, we should try to get people not to smoke but if people already do and have come to rely on it then I don't want to make life difficult for them.

[jamestroll]

Absolutely not! I strongly oppose this measure.

Drinking age should be lowered to 18 also.

This is coming from someone who does not smoke, drink, or do any drugs. Residual Mormonism.

But I also believe that the government can not legislate lives deep deeply. I favor minimal government intervention on issues like these. With some exceptions for public safety (i.e. texting and driving).

[ElectionsGuy]

Criminalizing behavior for 3 extra years which people are going to do anyway and is practically unenforceable? Great!

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

What is the point of preserving human life if all of life is pain?

Because it'd be a lot more painful with a black lung.

Rather have a good life with black lungs than a bad one without them. We all die of something sometime.

That's exactly the level of immature teenage mindset that makes such a compelling argument in favor of this measure.

No, that's the mindset of a smoker. Ask my 74 year old two pack a day smoking grandma.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Congratulations wifikitten! You're helping thousands of people who probably don't want it but certainly need it Allow me to appropriate *hughughug* for this joyous occasion. Clearly most everyone posting here is rather out of their mind on this issue or too biased to see the good, but thank you so much for your efforts!

[RINO Tom]

Stupid.

[Doimper]

Pretty unfortunate.

[Cory]

Lame.

[KingSweden]

I don't smoke, and have only smoked rarely in past, but the age for anything being 21 when everything else is 18 is ludicrous.

Also, don't see how this works if you can just pop across the river or into the County to get cigs instead

[Figueira]

What is the point of preserving human life if all of life is pain?

Because it'd be a lot more painful with a black lung.

Rather have a good life with black lungs than a bad one without them. We all die of something sometime.

That's exactly the level of immature teenage mindset that makes such a compelling argument in favor of this measure.

No, that's the mindset of a smoker. Ask my 74 year old two pack a day smoking grandma.

My grandmother died from smoking when she was not too much older than that.

Smoking doesn't actually make people's lives better.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

What is the point of preserving human life if all of life is pain?

Because it'd be a lot more painful with a black lung.

Rather have a good life with black lungs than a bad one without them. We all die of something sometime.

That's exactly the level of immature teenage mindset that makes such a compelling argument in favor of this measure.

This.

[ElectionsGuy]

What is the point of preserving human life if all of life is pain?

Because it'd be a lot more painful with a black lung.

Rather have a good life with black lungs than a bad one without them. We all die of something sometime.

That's exactly the level of immature teenage mindset that makes such a compelling argument in favor of this measure.

No, that's the mindset of a smoker.