WA: Companion Bills Filed to Raise Age for Buying, Selling and Using Tobacco and Vapor Products
A bipartisan coalition of nearly 50 lawmakers have filed companion bills in Washington’s House and Senate to raise the minimum age for purchasing, using and selling tobacco and vapor products.
The measures define a “vapor product” as any “electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, or similar product or device and any vapor cartridge or other container that may contain nicotine in a solution or other form that is intended to be used with or in an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, or similar product or device.”
The proposals notes that vapor products do not “include any product that meets the definition of marijuana, useable marijuana, marijuana concentrates, marijuana-infused products, cigarette, or tobacco products.”
The legislation is sponsored in the Senate by Senators Miloscia, Walsh, O’Ban, Darneille, Cleveland, King, Keiser, Pedersen, Frockt, Liias, Hunt, Chase, Kuderer.
It is sponsored in the House by Representatives Harris, Cody, Orwall, DeBolt, Johnson, McBride, Clibborn, Short, Pettigrew, Robinson, Fey, Kilduff, Riccelli, Ryu, Nealey, Goodman, Tharinger, Stanford, Frame, Stokesbary, Pollet, Jinkins, Haler, Kagi, Hargrove, Fitzgibbon, Appleton, Chapman, Senn, Bergquist, Gregerson, Young, Farrell, Slatter.
In the Senate it is referred to as Senate Bill 5025 and has been assigned to the Senate Healthcare Committee. A public hearing was held yesterday with the majority of those attending stating their support.
In the House it’s referred to as House Bill 1054 and has been assigned to the House Healthcare and Wellness Committee. A public hearing has been schedule for January 24th at 8am.