Up in Assembly Judiciary: Bill #AB59 to raise tobacco sales age in Nevada from 18 to 21.
Change happened at federal level in December 2019, & states have 3 years to enforce it or they risk losing 10% of a block grant.
33 states already raised the age.
Change happened at federal level in December 2019, & states have 3 years to enforce it or they risk losing 10% of a block grant.
33 states already raised the age.
When states entered a huge Master Settlement Agreement with tobacco companies in the late 1990s, states were charged with "diligent enforcement" of the law in exchange for yearly payments from the settlement.
Payouts are big: Nevada received $41 million from the MSA in 2019.
Payouts are big: Nevada received $41 million from the MSA in 2019.
One criticism is that only a small fraction of these settlement funds are directed to address smoking and its health effects. Historically, nearly half of it has buoyed the merit-based Millennium Scholarship.
thenevadaindependent.com/article/has-ne…
thenevadaindependent.com/article/has-ne…
Health groups - including Southern Nevada Health District and the American Heart Assoc. - oppose #AB59 because they don't think it has enough enforcement mechanisms.
They want 1-2 compliance checks a year on retailers and threat of license suspension / revocation for violations.
They want 1-2 compliance checks a year on retailers and threat of license suspension / revocation for violations.
Cigar association, joining the health groups in opposition to #AB59, has this observation:
"The data shows that youth seldom attempt to buy expensive cigars and pipe tobacco from our mail-in companies."
"The data shows that youth seldom attempt to buy expensive cigars and pipe tobacco from our mail-in companies."
AG's Chief of Staff Jessica Adair with a forceful response to critics of #AB59, says some folks reversed from support without warning.
Says a bill her office sponsored last session to increase enforcement didn't pass, and that failing to pass this bill would jeopardize funding.
Says a bill her office sponsored last session to increase enforcement didn't pass, and that failing to pass this bill would jeopardize funding.
A heartfelt moment from @Wheeler4Nevada, who says he started smoking at age 13, is now 67, and urges passage of #AB59.
"I know that quitting smoking is easy because I've done it hundreds of times ... I don't want to see our kids start smoking at their most vulnerable age."
"I know that quitting smoking is easy because I've done it hundreds of times ... I don't want to see our kids start smoking at their most vulnerable age."
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