Mussman Sponsors Measure to Increase Minimum Age to Buy Tobacco Products

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To combat the tobacco industry and to keep cigarettes and other tobacco products out of the hands of young adults, state Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, is sponsoring a new measure to increase the age to buy tobacco products to 21.

“Smoking and the use of other tobacco products is a public health issue. The industry preys upon teenagers, drawing them in and causing them to form dangerous habits at an early age,” said Mussman.  “Most smokers start smoking as teenagers, when they are more vulnerable to the addictive properties of nicotine, because research shows their brains are still developing.”

Mussman is sponsoring House Bill 4297, a measure that would raise the minimum wage to buy tobacco products, electronic cigarettes and other alternative nicotine products.  The bill has received strong support from lawmakers around the state, and was passed out of the House Health & Healthcare Disparities Committee last week.

“Raising the minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21 is the right thing to do,” continued Mussman.  “By keeping tobacco products out of the hands of teenagers, we will reduce the inevitable deaths, disease and health care costs for them now and on into their adult years.”

For more information, please contact Rep. Mussman’s full-time constituent service office by calling 847-923-9104 or by emailing StateRepMussman@gmail.com.