Bill would raise smoking age to 21, Assemblyman pushes toughest tobacco law in U.S

SF Chronicle ^ | 6/4/02 | Henry K. Lee

[randita]

A state lawmaker unveiled a bill Monday that would raise California's legal smoking age from 18 to 21, the highest in the nation.

The bill by Assemblyman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood, would make it illegal for anyone under 21 to purchase tobacco products, including cigarettes.

[randita]

This won't help Gray-Out. He was hoping to make up a big portion of the huge CA budget shortfall with cigarette tax $$$.

[Brian Mosely]

"There is no evidence whatsoever to indicate that once someone turns 18 that they are now able to make better choices," Koretz said Monday at a news conference at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.

Gee, maybe you had better take away their right to vote while you folks are at it.

[G.Mason]

Assemblyman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood has evidently been living life as "Mr. Cellophane Man". (people look right through him like he isn't there)

Won't his wife, girlfriend or boyfriend be elated at his sudden notoriety?

Hey.....Paul.....Your still a pimple on a hippo's butt!

[Flyer]

In Texas a 17 year old male is handled by the adult court system. The tobacco laws treat him as a juvenile. I would like to see this Catch 22 handled in court.

[rhombus]

Um, so if you are in the military and under 21 you can't smoke 'em if you got 'em?

[Prodigal Son]

This couldn't be constitutional. I mean if I were a resturant owner, they're telling me I wouldn't be able to have an ashtray in my establishment? It's a piece of glass for Christ's sake.

"If we can prevent even one 18-year-old from becoming addicted to cigarettes, our bill is worthwhile," said Koretz, adding the proposal would "significantly reduce health-care costs."

And Dr. Leonard Klay, a Santa Rosa obstetrician and gynecologist who proposed the resolution to the association, said "anything we can do to prevent addiction" justifies the need for the bill.

These are dangerous people. With statements like those, they could justify locking you away in a cage in order to keep you safe. That people like this exist doesn't surprise me- I have seen evil in many places and it is a fact of life. But that this moron is elected to public office in the USA and has people supporting him is just beyond me. California and Washington State have practically reached hostile nation status. Dubya needs to put 'em on the "Axis of Evil" list and send in the military to remove their Taliban-like gov'ts.

[Illbay]

Very good idea.

And giving 18 year olds the right to vote was silly to begin with--except it's a moot point because only about three percent of 'em vote anyway.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The Liberal elite knows best. Ask Jimmy Carter, Algore, etc.

[joesnuffy]

Raise the smoking age to 80....

[RabidBartender]

"There is no evidence whatsoever to indicate that once someone turns 18 that they are now able to make better choices," Koretz said Monday at a news conference at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.

That same rule applies to this idjit's age as well, it would seem.

[Brian Mosely]

And while we're on the topic of "choice", I wonder how many Californians would feel if another one of their "choices" were suddenly phased out of existence....you know...such as "pro-choice"?

Even left coast liberals should be smart enough to see where this type of thinking leads....

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I think they like what they see.

[Mom_Grandmother]

"There is no evidence whatsoever to indicate that once someone turns 18 that they are now able to make better choices," Koretz said Monday at a news conference at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles."

"Gee, maybe you had better take away their right to vote while you folks are at it."

I agree, even though I would rather they not smoke the moment these egg-heads put a gun in my sons hand at 18 and said "die for your country", well, I think that person can have a damn cigarette if they want one.