SACRAMENTO >> The state Assembly today approved a package of sweeping tobacco control bills that would increase the legal smoking age from 18 to 21 and regulate the manufacture and sale of electronic cigarettes for the first time.
Lawmakers also approved a bill that would allow counties to approve local cigarette taxes.
The legislation cleared a series of votes in the state Senate last summer, but in the hectic final few days of last year’s legislative session the bills stalled in the lower house and languished there until now.
“Big Tobacco’s assault on youth and taxpayers was dealt a major setback today when the Legislature came to the rescue of Californians,” said Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, who authored one of the bills. “Tobacco-free habits save lives and billions of taxpayer health care dollars.”
Doctors and health care workers quickly applauded the outcome of the votes and Democrats’ commitment to reducing Californians’ use of tobacco. But they’re not the only ones breathing a sigh of relief.
Proponents of California’s landmark right-to-die law are also thankful because today’s votes will allow the Legislature to shut down the special session on health care funding that’s been open since last summer as soon as next week.
The law allowing terminally ill Californians to take their own lives with help from a doctor won’t take effect until 90 days after the special session ends, even through Gov. Jerry Brown signed the legislation last fall.
