While California is poised to become the second state to raise their tobacco purchase age to 21 if the Governor receives the bills which are currently being held to avert a threat by the tobacco industry to start a referendum campaign, Vermont is jockeying to beat them to the punch.
The Vermont House of Representatives has given preliminary approval to legislation that would raise the tobacco smoking age to 21 and increase tobacco taxes as well.
The measure was passed by a vote of 81-61 and will face a final vote tomorrow. If passed, the bill would require special permission from the Senate in order to be considered.
While Democrats argued that the measure was done for health purposes, Rep. Ann Donahue R-Northfield argued that”The right to make decisions as an adult is only meaningful if it includes the right to make decisions that others consider to be bad decisions.”
The bill also includes an increase of 32 cents on other tobacco products which includes cigars. The current tax in the state of Vermont is 92% but is capped at $2 for cigars under $10 and $4 for those over $10. The House adopted the tax amendment 75-68.
Meanwhile a measure that would have kept the smoking age at 18 for members of the military was defeated 70-72.
The future of the Senate voting on the bill should is pass is uncertain and they have opposed the measure to raise the tobacco age in the past.
UPDATE: On Wednesday, the move officially passed with a slight change. The House approved the military exemption by an 80-63 vote despite the failure to pass it the day prior. The bill now moves on to the Senate.
