Comment on Bill raising legal age to buy tobacco products heads to LePage’s desk

AUGUSTA –– A bill that raises Maine’s legal age for purchasing tobacco products including electronic smoking devices from 18 to 21 is on its way to Republican Gov. Paul LePage for consideration. The bill, backed by a broad bipartisan coalition of lawmakers, looks to decrease the number of young people picking up cigarettes or other tobacco products that can lead to life-long health problems. Maine’s teenage smoking rate is 11 percent, which is among the highest in the nation and three points above the national teen smoking rate of 8 percent, according to U.S.