01/17/2019
T21
WHAT IS IT?
T21 IS PROPOSED WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD RAISE THE LEGAL AGE TO PURCHASE V***R PRODUCTS TO 21. HOWEVER, IT WILL NOT AFFECT THE ENTIRETY OF WASHINGTON STATE RESIDENTS EQUALLY.
WHAT AREAS IN WASHINGTON ARE NOT AFFECTED BY T21 LAWS?
T21 WILL NOT AFFECT TRIBAL NATION LANDS IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES: WHATCOM, KING, THURSTON, KITSAP, PIERCE, SKAGIT, SNOHOMISH, GRAYS HARBOR, THURSTON, JEFFERSON, PACIFIC, MASON, STEVENS, YAKIMA, KLICKITAT.
WHAT ABOUT 18-20-YEAR-OLD MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE TRANSFERRED OR RESIDE ON BASE?
T21 DENIES ADULT SOLDIERS THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE LESS HARMFUL ALTERNATIVES WHILE RESIDING IN WASHINGTON STATE.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE BEHIND T21?
RAISING THE MINIMUM LEGAL PURCHASE AGE TO 21 IS INTENDED TO DISRUPT THE SUPPLY CHAIN BETWEEN 18-20 YEAR OLDS AND THOSE UNDER 18 THAT ARE STILL IN THEIR SOCIAL CIRCLES.
WILL T21 KEEP KIDS FROM SMOKING?
SOME TEENS WHO SMOKE OR V**E DO UNDOUBTEDLY OBTAIN PRODUCT FROM OLDER PEERS. THIS LAW MAY INDEED DISRUPT A SMALL FRACTION OF THOSE INCIDENTS.
HOWEVER, THE 18-20 AGE GROUP IS STILL LIKELY TO ACQUIRE BECAUSE THEIR SOCIAL GROUP INCLUDES PEOPLE 21 AND OVER.
ULTIMATELY, T21 IS LIMITED AND LEAVES TOO MUCH ROOM FOR BLACK MARKET SALES.
WHAT IS THE GREATEST PREDICTOR OF WHETHER OR NOT A YOUNG PERSON WILL START SMOKING?
THE GREATEST PREDICTOR OF WHETHER OR NOT A YOUNG PERSON WILL START SMOKING IS IF THEY LIVE WITH SOMEONE WHO SMOKES. YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING WITH SMOKERS WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE EASY ACCESS TO CI******ES IN THEIR HOME.
DOES T21 DISTINGUISH BETWEEN COMBUSTIBLE AND NON-COMBUSTIBLE PRODUCTS?
NO
SHOULD THERE BE A DISTINCTION MADE BETWEEN NON-COMBUSTIBLE AND COMBUSTIBLE NI****NE?
THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS CONCLUDED THAT V***R PRODUCTS ARE AT LEAST 95% LESS HARMFUL THAT COMBUSTIBLE CIGARETTE SMOKING.
FDA COMMISSIONER SCOTT GOTTLIEB ACKNOWLEDGED IT IS THE CHEMICALS IN CI******ES AND NOT THE NI****NE THAT IS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CANCER, LUNG DISEASE, AND HEART DISEASE THAT KILLS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS EACH YEAR.
FDA HAS ALSO STATED THAT V***R PRODUCTS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PROVIDE “CURRENTLY ADDICTED INDIVIDUAL ADULT SMOKERS WHO STILL WANT TO GET ACCESS TO SATISFYING LEVELS OF NI****NE WITHOUT MANY OF THE HARMFUL EFFECTS THAT COME WITH THE COMBUSTION OF TOBACCO” AND THAT V***R PRODUCTS “MAY OFFER A POTENTIALLY LOWER RISK ALTERNATIVE FOR INDIVIDUAL ADULT SMOKERS.
IN A NUTSHELL, T21
STRIPS SOME ADULTS OF PERSONAL FREEDOM
CREATES INEQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF POLICY
INCREASES BLACK MARKET PURCHASES
SENDS THE CONFUSING AND INACCURATE MESSAGE THAT CI******ES AND SMOKE-FREE PRODUCTS ARE EQUALLY HARMFUL.
IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO STOP IT?
YES!!!
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