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HAGATNA (AP) — The Guam legislature is considering a bill that could raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products and electronic cigarettes from 18 to 21.
The Pacific Daily News reports (http://bit.ly/1S5cj6r ) that the measure comes after Hawaii became the first state to raise the legal smoking age to 21. Guam’s bill, sponsored by Vice Speaker Benjamin Cruz would go into effect at the start of next year if enacted.
According to data from the Department of Health and Social Services, nearly 70 percent of deaths in Guam in 2011 were related to tobacco use.
Cruz says he wanted to increase the legal smoking age years ago.