Each week we share some of the news that comes across our desk about upcoming legislation.. This week we have stories from Kansas, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Canada and Switzerland.
Kansas – In Leavenworth the City Commission voted to raise the tobacco purchase age to 21 by a 3-2 vote via Leavenworth Times https://www.leavenworthtimes.com/news/20160615/commission-increases-age-for-purchasing-tobacco
Illinois – A proposed tobacco tax in the city of Chicago is on hold until a Circuit Court holds a hearing on wether the city is allowed to under state law. The tax is being challenged by Iwan Ries via IPCPR.
Massachusetts – The city of Stoughton saw the Board of Health vote 4-0 to raise the tobacco purchase age in the city from 18 to 21. The city became the 119th in the state to raise the purchase age and the measure goes into effect on July 9th via WickedLocal https://stoughton.wickedlocal.com/news/20160614/tobacco-purchase-age-raised-to-21-in-stoughton
The 120th city in the state raised the tobacco purchase age to 21. This time it was Lowell who also put language in that limits the sale of flavored tobacco to locations that get 90% of their sales from tobacco products via Lowell Sun https://www.lowellsun.com/breakingnews/ci_30020785/lowell-healthboard-bans-tobacco-sales-those-under-21
New Jersey – The Township of Maplewood has raised the purchase age of tobacco to 21. According the Mayor he was inspired to raise the age when Gov. Christie failed to do so. The measure goes into effect Aug. 17 via NJ.com https://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2016/06/inspired_by_christie_veto_nj_town_raises_smoking_a.html
Meanwhile in Montclair, the Mayor and Township Council said they plan to introduce similar measures at their next meeting via Baristanet.com https://baristanet.com/2016/06/nj-towns-passing-ordinances-raise-legal-age-tobacco-sales-21/
Canada – in Kamloops,British Columbia the City Council has voted to relax its complete smoking ban in parks. The relaxing of the law allows for special events to having smoking sections via CFJC Today https://cfjctoday.com/article/530278/smokers-permitted-during-kamloops-ribfest-riverside-park
Switzerland – A ban on advertising tobacco products in the country has been rejected by the Swiss Senate who voted this week to protect a free market economy via SwissInfo – https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/health-or-free-market_no-general-ban-on-tobacco-advertising/42229592
