Monroe Review

Michigan may see a rise in the age requirement to purchase tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes.

Sen. Dale Zorn (R-Ida) seeks the House's approval for legislation to control the sale of electronic cigarettes in the state and raise the legal age to purchase all tobacco products from 18 to 21.

The legislation, Senate Bill 785, is a part of a seven-bill package, which was approved by the Michigan Senate in early June.

Sen. Dale Zorn | #MiSenateGOP

“This bipartisan package is designed to clear up any confusion about the use of e-cigarettes or vaping devices in our communities while also protecting the health of our children and young adults,” Zorn said in a release on SenatorDaleZorn.com.

Though popular among a wide age range, vaping -- the use of electric cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, and other nicotine vapor delivery devices -- has had a negative impact on those who partake.

“For decades we’ve seen the terrible and often deadly impact of youth tobacco use in Michigan and across the country,” said Zorn on his website. “The concern now is the alarming use of vaping products by minors and reports that these devices are just as dangerous as traditional tobacco products.”

The tobacco product seller would be required to check to ensure that a buyer is at least 21 years of age, if Senate Bill 785 passes. Currently, the age requirement to buy electric cigarettes is 18.

Zorn’s bill coincides will SB 781-84 and 786. The legislation proposed in these bills would regulate e-cigarettes as tobacco products, tax vaping products at a rate of 18% of the wholesale price, require state licenses for all businesses and sales staff engaged in selling vaping products, create advertising restrictions for the sale of vapor products, require electronic age verification for the sale of vapor products and raise the current age to buy tobacco products (including electronic cigarettes) from 18 to 21.

The bill package has been sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.