California: Where liberty for citizens goes up in smoke.

The last time we visited the city of San Francisco, it had just installed open-air urinals because of rampant public urination problem.

This sanctuary city was also the focus of national attention when, during a family outing to the Pier 14, Kate Steinle was killed by an illegal immigrant who had a long-term criminal history and had been deported 5 times.

In its infinite wisdom, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has decided that the continuing “quality of life” crisis it is now experiencing can be best resolved by limiting the purchasing freedoms of its young adults.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the measure on Tuesday, according to CNN affiliate KPIX. With this new legislation, San Francisco joins Boston, New York and more than 100 other U.S. cities in raising the minimum age to buy cigarettes, e-cigarettes and other tobacco products. On January 1, Hawaii became the first U.S. state to raise its smoking age to 21.

This continues a nationwide trend. San Francisco joins Boston, New York City, Cleveland and more than 100 U.S. cities that have voted to raise the minimum age from 18 to 21.

A report issued by the nonprofit, non-governmental organization Institute of Medicine in 2015 found that among adults who became daily smokers, about 90 percent tried their first cigarette before the age of 19, and almost 100 percent report first use before age 26. In June 2015, the Institute of Medicine was reinstituted as part of the National Academy of Sciences and renamed the National Academy of Medicine. The report concludes that overall, raising the minimum legal age for tobacco products would likely delay or prevent the initial use of tobacco by teens and young adults.

However, in many areas (including San Francisco), marijuana purchase is quite legal for young adults.’

California residents 18 and older can obtain a medicinal marijuana recommendation from a licensed physician, buy and possess up to a half a pound of marijuana, as well as grow plants for personal consumption.

I can’t begin to imagine the furor if this rule were applied to some other choice, such as abortion.

Federal Drug Administration cannot raise the minimum legal age nationwide; that power resides in state and local government. Interestingly, one of the driving forces behind this new effort is the increasing popularity of e-cigarettes among teens.

Therefore, picking up where San Francisco left off, the California Assembly has approved a series of measures that include not only raising the age of cigarette purchase, but bans the use of electronic cigarettes in restaurants, theaters and other public places where traditional smoking is prohibited.

Lawmakers cited the health risks of tobacco in approving six bills and sending them to the state Senate, which had previously acted on the smoking-age and vaping bills but must now vote on minor amendments. Republicans said it was unfair to take away the decision on whether to smoke from young people who are old enough to marry, vote, sign contracts and join the military. “You can give your life but you can’t buy a pack of cigarettes,” said Republican leader Chad Mayes of Yucca Valley, who opposed the bill.

California: Where liberty for citizens goes up in smoke.



