The state of Oregon has raised the age requirement for buying tobacco products in the state from 18 to 21 and even though nicotine vaporizers contain nicotine, which is derived from tobacco, but not tobacco itself, they too are subject to the state’s new tobacco regulations.
The law’s new age requirement when into effect on January 1, 2018.
As a result of the law’s passing, vaping products that dispense nicotine or tobacco are no longer available for purchase in the state for those under the age of 21.
Oregon’s governor, Kate Brown, signed the House Bill (HB 2024) into law in August of last year. Subsequently, Oregon is now the fifth state in the United States to raise the age requirement on tobacco sales from 18 to 21. The other four are Maine, New Jersey, California, and Hawaii.
As a result of its passing, the state’s universities are now required to have “a written policy prohibiting the possession of tobacco products and inhalant delivery systems by persons under 21 years of age,” the University of Portland’s student-run newspaper The Beacon reported. In addition, universities must now have “a written plan to implement the policy.”
For those who thought that there might be a chance that vaping products, particularly those used for tobacco and/or nicotine, would be left unaffected by the bill, the bill includes language that describes “inhalant delivery systems” that are designed “for the purpose of delivering the nicotine into a person’s respiratory system,” or in other words: nicotine/tobacco vape buyers must now be 21 as well.
According to the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, 95 percent of adult smokers started smoking before they turned 21. Subsequently, the new law attempts to stop potential smokers from ever picking up the habit by requiring that they be at least 21 years of age before they’re able to buy their first tobacco product.
While the potential health implications are obvious, those of us here at Vaporizer Wire can’t help but wonder how this new law will impact the state’s current smokers and vapers who are currently under the age of 21 – residents who were previously able to buy tobacco products for themselves, but under the new law, are no longer able to do so.
We also can’t help but wonder what positive or negative impact(s) this might have on the state’s smokers under the age of 21 that are trying to kick the habit with the help of vaporizers.
What do you think about Oregon’s decision to raise the age requirement for buying tobacco and nicotine products in their state?
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