Officials in Tallahassee are trying to raise the age to buy cigarettes in Florida from 18 to 21. Some argue most people who begin smoking do so when they’re young so this is a way to keep more people from ever picking up the habit in the first place. If The Tobacco 21 Act becomes law, Florida will join California, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey and Oregon in making it against the law to sell cigarettes, vapes and other tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.
Interestingly, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, although fewer African Americans use tobacco than other groups and start smoking cigarettes at an older age, they are more likely to die from smoking-related diseases if they smoke. Of those who do smoke, 3 out of every 4 blacks want to kick the habit, the highest in the nation. If you’re trying to quit but just can’t seem to stop, your doctor has medical treatment options that make quitting easier.