Posted on 02/01/2019 2:05:31 PM PST by buckalfa
HONOLULU (KHON2) - Hawaii could be the first state in the U.S. to ban the sale of cigarettes, if a current proposal becomes law.
Adults younger than age 30 could be legally prohibited from buying cigarettes in less than a year's time -- and all cigarette sales would be banned in Hawaii in five years -- under a bill by State Representative Richard Creagan. The bill was co-signed by Representatives John Mizuno, also a Democrat, and Cynthia Thielen, a Republican.
"We're taxing them, that did decrease use somewhat, but we still have 140,000 people in our state that smoke cigarettes. You don't see them as much anymore, because we kind of made them hide. But, they're going to die, half of them are going to die if they keep smoking, and we can prevent that."
Creagan dismisses the argument that his proposal would take away a smoker's civil liberty, saying it is something the tobacco industry has long cited. KHON2 was unable to reach the American Civil Liberties Union for comment on this story.
Creagan says smokers are horribly addicted and need freedom from enslavement.
Smokers and non-smokers have mixed feelings.
Kenny Tsai says, "I don't think it's a good idea. It's taking away our rights to choose. That's what I think."
Frank Raken says, "Even tho like it's 21, you have to be 21, there is still kind of places that you can actually get cigarettes or, you know, how they ask someone to buy for them. It's gonna be a good idea."
Vickson Victor enjoys smoking and says, "It's my right. It's my life. So, it's my choice."
State Representative Richard Creagan is a retired emergency room physician, who believes that from his Capitol office, he can save more lives.
In addition to smokers' addiction, Creagan says the state also is addicted -- to 110-million dollars in annual, cigarette-tax revenue. While Creagan would prefer the ban be immediate and total, he realizes beneficiaries of those tax dollars, the UH Cancer Research Center and John A. Burns School of Medicine, can't go cold-turkey. That is why the ban would be unrolled in phases.
Creagan believes, if Hawaii becomes the first cigarette-free destination, visitors will flock here.
"Our beaches will be free of cigarette butts, our parks, all of that. Kids won't be exposed. You won't have to worry about your baby or your dog chewing on a cigarette butt, I mean, we'll be the first state to be cigarette-free and i think that's really cool."
Hawaii was first to raise the legal smoking age to 21 and with the proposed ban, he believes the state should continue to be a beacon for the rest of the nation.
But weed is okay?
Like Prohibition..really kept booze out of the US didn’t it?
This is going to create a huge black market and crime.
But, they’re going to die, half of them are going to die if they keep smoking, and we can prevent that.
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Only half are going to die? Gee. I should move to Hawaii and start buying cigarettes.
Here in my state we have a 100% mortality rate. Smoker or non-smoker.
At least in Hawaii they have a 50/50 chance of dying.
But weed is okay?
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Evidently. These morons must be on some top notch Maui Wowee.
Smoking Pigs will also remain legal
the libertarians will be here any minute to use this ridiculous idea to support their argument for free pot.
Creagan believes, if Hawaii becomes the first cigarette-free destination, visitors will flock here.
“Our beaches will be free of cigarette butts, our parks, all of that. Kids won’t be exposed. You won’t have to worry about your baby or your dog chewing on a cigarette butt, I mean, we’ll be the first state to be cigarette-free and i think that’s really cool.”
oh please!!!!
Hawaii is still going to be full of homeless and drug addicts and you have to watch where to step and don’t touch anything. Even if you take cigarette butts out of the equation, they will still have vast areas of filthy beaches and parks. Give me a break.
Sometimes I think liberal nanny state types really enjoy insulting our intelligence.
What about mailing them there?
That sounds stupid.
They want to ban tobacco products because the nanny state is looking out for your health.
They want to allow abortion until delivery because it is a choice.
Ok, I’m confused now.
I would tackle the state’s huge meth, heroin, and homeless problem before I worry about tobacco. Many homeless people will scrape up enough money and buy a one way ticket to Hawaii. It rarely gets below 70 or above 90 so it is the perfect place to live outside year round.
Reminds me of when I picked up one of my kids from college last year.
As I approached the dormitory entrance, I noticed a couple of kids outside by the front door smoking cigarettes. A sign there called it the designated smoking area.
I then went into the dorm and smelled weed in just about every hallway.
Didn’t they try that with alcohol about 100 years ago? What luck with that one?
“Age 30?” So a hypothetical 29 year old platoon sergeant or company commander, with 7-11 years on active duty and multiple deployments to war zones, where they are responsible for the lives of 40-150 soldiers is deemed not mature enough to purchase cigarettes?
Nothing like creating yet another black market. This will just put money in the pockets of organized crime.
Having said that, cigarettes take a terrible toll on the health of their users, over time. So I suppose all the drug warrior protect us from ourselves types will be completely on-board with this. Even if they’re smokers - I mean, it’s all for our own good, right?
Nice, rich volcanic soil for growing tobacco.
Prohibition V 3.0
Good luck banning it from military installations.
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