Washington State Might Hike Legal Smoking Age to 21

Washington state may become the first state to make the legal smoking age the same as the legal drinking age: 21.

State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, is behind the new proposal, according to Fox News.

In a statement, Ferguson said, “The harmful consequences of tobacco are clear. Smoking kills 8,300 Washingtonians every year, and $2.8 billion in health care costs are directly attributed to tobacco use in the state.”

He continued by noting that the effects of tobacco are “devastating” to young people: “Research shows the young adult brain, still developing between 18 and 21, is highly susceptible to nicotine addiction. We must do more to protect our youth from tobacco’s grip.”

Ferguson is backing Senate Bill 5494 and House Bill 1458. Democratic Rep. Tina Orwall, the main sponsor of the House bill, stated on her website, “We know that tobacco is highly addictive, that most smokers begin to use nicotine in their teens and can later develop tobacco-related illnesses… By restricting use during youth we hope to break this cycle of addiction and, ultimately, save lives.”

While the motions to increase the age are already in play, Republican State Sen. Mark Miloscia, who is the lead sponsor of SB 5494, believes that the fight to raise the age will have many obstacles and be a battleground for several years.

Four states–Utah, New Jersey, Alabama and Alaska, along with Washington, D.C.– currently require someone be 19 to legally smoke.