Minnesota Legislators Introduce 'Tobacco 21' Bill

A bipartisan group of Minnesota lawmakers introduced a bill in the Minnesota House Thursday that would raise the state tobacco sale age to 21. Minnesota would become the sixth state in the nation to pass a "Tobacco 21" law, which proponents say protect youth from tobacco addiction and disease.

Since 2017, five Minnesota cities have passed Tobacco 21 policies, including Plymouth, Edina, Bloomington, St. Louis Park and North Mankato. Five states (Hawaii, California, New Jersey, Maine and Oregon) have raised the tobacco sale age to 21.

Advocates say raising the tobacco sale age to 21 is an effective way to keep commercial tobacco products away from young people, and that recent data shows the tobacco industry's tactics have disrupted Minnesota's progress in lowering tobacco use.

For the first time in 17 years, the Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey found an increase in youth tobacco use.

"Nearly all addicted smokers – 95 percent – start before age 21," states nonprofit ClearWay Minnesota. "In Minnesota, raising the tobacco age to 21 would prevent an estimated 30,000 kids from becoming smokers over the next 15 years. Last year, a Tobacco 21 bill was introduced in the Minnesota Senate."

Despite the bipartisan group of coauthors, the Tobacco 21 bill may not get the support it needs to pass the Minnesota State Legislature. Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka doubts there's enough widespread support for an increase in the smoking age this year, reports the Associated Press.

The proposal was announced this week at the State Capitol by Rep. Dario Anselmo (R-Edina).

Bill coauthors include:

• Representatives Keith Franke (R-St. Paul Park)
• Sandy Layman (R-Cohasset)
• Dave Baker (R-Willmar)
• Mark Uglem (R-Champlin)
• Mary Kunesh-Podein (DFL-New Brighton)
• Laurie Halverson (DFL-Eagan)
• Rena Moran (DFL-St. Paul)
• Mike Freiberg (DFL-Golden Valley).

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