There’s another anti-tobacco bill in the state of Pennsylvania, this time, new rules on who is able to purchase tobacco. Rep. Vanessa Brown, D-Philadelphia, has introduced H.B. 1628, which would change the minimum age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21. Brown was joined by Rep. W. Curtis Thomas, D-Philadelphia; Mark Cohen, D-Philadelphia; and Margo Davidson, D-Delaware. It’s chances of passing seem slim, less than even S.B. 13, a Senate bill that would increase taxes on cigars and other tobacco products sold within the state. Sources close to the situation told halfwheel that current discussions are over tax measures, meaning S.B. 13 will likely fail and cigars should remain untaxed in the state of Pennsylvania. While numerous states have introduced legislation to increase the minimum age to purchase tobacco to 21, so far only Hawaii has passed such legislation. The new law will go into effect in Hawaii on Jan. 1, 2016.
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