And if some should die of cancer, oh well
California will probably not raise the legal smioking age to 21 because, golly, they need the tax revenue all those young smokers will produce.
A measure touted as one of the best ways to reduce smoking among young people — raising the legal smoking age — is expected to fail in the state Legislature this week.
By most accounts, it isn’t big tobacco money or partisan politics that threatens a bill that would make California the first state in the nation to raise the smoking age to 21.
Cash-strapped California just can’t part with the tax revenue it gets from the sale of cigarettes to young adults, some lawmakers say.
And in an especially brain-dead statement, Sen. Dede Alpert, said “If this were a health issue, it would be different. But this is a tax issue.” Uh huh.